Council of Europe launches investigation into H1N1 pandemic

A Europe wide investigation will begin this week into the World Health Organization’s decision to label the outbreak of swine flu a “pandemic,” amid allegations that it did so under pressure from drug companies looking to boost demand for their vaccines.

The inquiry, launched by the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly, will be led by the British Labour MP Paul Flynn and could be concluded as early as June.

Speaking after being appointed to the role, Mr Flynn said that he wanted to establish how WHO had assessed the risks from …