European parliament criticises H1N1 pandemic response

The European Union parliament has branded as “disproportionate” some of the public health measures that governments took during the H1N1 pandemic two years ago. MEPs have also called on European Union countries to overhaul their prevention plans to make them more effective, coherent, and flexible.

In a strongly worded resolution the parliament urges the World Health Organization to revise the definition of a pandemic to take account not just of its geographical spread but also of its severity.

The resolution and accompanying report were drafted by the French Green MEP Michèle Rivasi. After they were approved on 8 March in Strasbourg she said, “This report …