Milburn calls for WHO audit of disease response

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has called on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assess the preparedness of nations to deal with new and emerging diseases in the wake of SARS.

Speaking at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Mr Milburn said it was "vital" to conduct an audit of every country in order to identify and address any gaps in current strategies. This would ensure the world was able to cope with the threat of disease in a proportionate and effective way.

The WHO has recorded a total of 7,864 suspected SARS cases – over 5,000 of which are concentrated in China – with 643 deaths confirmed. The UK has recorded four people as suffering from SARS and all have subsequently made a full recovery. Over 3,800 patients are believed to be in recovery and 28 countries worldwide have been affected.

In order to tackle an illness which has become global in its suffering, Mr Milburn said that only a strengthened global health organisation could coordinate a response.

"The emergence of SARS in developing and developed countries, in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, has confronted all nations with a new public health challenge," he said.

"In the last 30 years we have been faced with the emergence of an average of one new infectious disease a year. As the new threat of bioterrorism signifies, infectious diseases are now a challenge to stability and security as much as to health and prosperity."

"Where infectious disease in one part of the world can become within days, if not hours, a problem for another; each and every nation owes an obligation, one to another."

He said that it was essential that international law was sufficiently robust to ensure that when the WHO demanded action, all states would fulfil their obligations to protect the world community. He also expressed support for the USA's proposal to establish an international surveillance system for new and emerging diseases.

(GMcG)