MEPs criticise WHO over H1N1 pandemic advice

The European parliament has launched a strong attack on the World Health Organization, accusing it of distorting the term “pandemic” during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009-10 and triggering a worldwide false alarm. That, in turn, gave rise to inappropriate and disproportionate public health decisions by European Union countries, members of the parliament claim.

The criticism comes in a report drafted by the French Green MEP Michèle Rivasi evaluating management of H1N1 flu in 2009-10 in the European Union. The report was overwhelmingly adopted by the parliament’s public health committee on 25 January, with 58 votes in favour of the report, just two against, and one abstention.

It calls …