(6 May 2003)
1. Wide shot of news conference panel
2. Cutaway of journalists at news conference
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Byrne, EU Health Commissioner:
"Well this was quite a historic occasion this afternoon. This was the first occasion when this particular council also had present the health ministers from the ten accession countries who fully participated in the discussions. It was also historic in the sense it was the first occasion that doctor Brundtland, the director general of the WHO was present at a health council and her involvement was important and she gave some very valuable advice. She answered many questions put by a number of ministers. The council is now drafting the final conclusions for a final agreement. The discussion was full as the minister has indicated, and it's worthwhile I think to emphasise the fact that there have been no deaths in Europe from SARS and there has only been one case of local transmission within Europe. These are important facts and are a testimony to the talents and the skills of the medical professions of Europe."
4. Cutaway of journalist asking question
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Kostas Stefanis, Greek Health Minister:
"What I said was in both entry and exit points, screening was thought to be useful. But the emphasis was placed on the exit rather than on the entry. But nobody really rejected the idea of having entry screening."
6. Exterior of building where EU health council meeting took place
7. Various of health council delegates arriving for emergency meeting
8. Various interiors of European health ministers talking before round table conference began
9. Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO director-general (in pink suit) at meeting before round table conference began
10. Various wide pans of round table in proceeding
11. Wide of news conference
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO director-general:
"If we look at China there still is a considerable number of cases every day and in a number of provinces. So certainly we have not seen a peak in China yet. That is the crucial, one of the crucial areas now where the numbers of cases are much, much higher than in any other country."
10. Wide of news conference
STORYLINE:
The head of the World Health Organisation met 25 European health ministers in Brussels on Tuesday for an emergency meeting on the outbreak of SARS.
At a news conference shortly after, David Byrne, the EU Health Commissioner called the talks "historic" - because it was the first time Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO's director general had attended an EU health council meeting - and the first time health ministers from the ten new accession countries had taken part as well.
Gro Harlem Brundtland told health ministers to remain vigilant and support proposals to set up a European Union-wide centre for disease prevention and control.
David Byrne said the meeting discussed future measures to prevent outbreaks, like that of SARS, and said a set of draft of resolutions had been drawn up. Byrne added the basic principles for those resolutions have been agreed on but "finishing touches" were needed.
Byrne - backed by Brundtland - had called on ministers to give the EU's head office more powers in tackling the spread of communicable diseases like SARS.
The Greek Health Minister, Kostas Stefanis said the meeting also reviewed airline screening procedures for travellers from SARS-affected countries.
The Italian Health Minister Girolamo Sirchia had urged EU-wide screening of passengers arriving at European airports from China, but Brundtland hinted this was unnecessary.
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