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Order Sco/3870/2006, Of 15 December, Which Is Designated The National Center's Liaison With The World Health Organization And The Provisions Of The National Epidemiological Surveillance Network, For The Application Of The Regulation Are Completed...

Original Language Title: ORDEN SCO/3870/2006, de 15 de diciembre, por la que se designa el Centro Nacional de Enlace con la Organización Mundial de la Salud y se completan las disposiciones de la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica, para la aplicación del Reglamento ...

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TEXT

Since the end of 2003, there is an outbreak of influenza produced by a new H5N1 avian influenza virus in Southeast Asia, with human cases in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China and Indonesia, and outside of this country. region in Azerbaijan, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that this strain of bird flu virus has the potential to start a flu pandemic. This situation has necessitated the adoption of measures of a national nature in order to prevent the introduction of this subtype of avian influenza virus into the national territory. In this sense, the Royal Decree 1131/2003, of 5 September, was drawn up, creating the National Executive Committee for the prevention, control and monitoring of the epidemiological evolution of the influenza virus. This Committee approved in May 2005 the National Plan for Preparedness and Response to a Pandemic of Influenza, following the guidelines of the WHO and the European Union. The aim of this plan is to ensure that the response and measures put in place by the health authorities in the event of a pandemic will reduce the impact of the disease on the population and ensure the smooth functioning of the health and social services, as well as harmonising these measures both at national and international level. The International Health Regulations, hereinafter referred to as the IHR, adopted on 23 May 2005 at the 58th World Health Assembly, in its Title II, Articles 5.1, 6 and 7, calls on States Parties to develop, strengthen and maintain the capacity of to detect, assess and report any unforeseen or unusual events occurring on its territory, whatever its origin or provenance, and which may constitute an international public health emergency. Resolution WHA59.2, adopted on 26 May 2006 in the 59th World Health Assembly, calls on Member States to immediately comply with the provisions of the IHR deemed relevant in relation to the risk posed by influenza. Bird flu and pandemic flu. In point 4, this resolution calls on the Member States to designate or immediately establish a National Liaison Centre for the RSI as provided for in Article 4 of the Regulation, and to charge that Centre to provide support for the risk assessment in collaboration with the WHO. According to this article, the functions of the National Liaison Centres include sending the WHO Contact Points to the IHR, on behalf of the State Party concerned, urgent communications concerning the implementation of the Regulation and dissemination of information. information to the relevant units of the administration of the State Party concerned. In this resolution WHA59.2, Member States are also asked to apply the mechanisms and procedures provided for in the Regulation for diseases which may constitute a disease in the case of human cases of avian influenza. public health emergency of international importance. Decision 2119 /98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 establishing a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases has been taken into account in the preparation of this order. the Community, which in its Article 4 provides that Member States shall provide useful information on the evolution of epidemic situations and on rare epidemiological phenomena or new communicable diseases of origin unknown. Commission Decision 2000 /57/EC of 22 December 1999 on the early warning and response system for the surveillance and control of communicable diseases pursuant to Decision No 2119 /98/EC has been considered as such. of the European Parliament and of the Council. As set out in Article 4 (a), information on specific threats to the population has to be transmitted by the competent authorities of the Member States responsible for determining the precise measures to protect public health. Royal Decree 2210/1995 of 28 December, establishing the National Network of Epidemiological Surveillance, sets out in its article 4.1 the notification of epidemic situations and outbreaks. On the other hand, in Article 15.2 it states that an epidemic or outbreak is considered to be an occurrence of a disease, problem or health risk in an area formerly free of it. Article 16 states that the declaration of an epidemic outbreak is mandatory and urgent. This obligation affects, in the first instance, all the doctors in exercise and the health centres, public and private, which detect the appearance of the same. The emergence of a case of human bird flu in our country, according to article 18 (5) of the aforementioned royal decree, should be considered an outbreak of supracomunitarian interest given its importance and gravity, and as such must be declared in a manner to the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs. This order is intended to supplement Royal Decree 2210/1995 of 28 December 1995 concerning aspects of the surveillance and reporting of avian influenza in humans, in accordance with the new provisions of the IHR (2005). In its treatment, this order has been submitted to the plenary of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System and to the consultation of the Autonomous Communities and Cities with Autonomy Statute. In its virtue, with the prior approval of the Minister of Public Administrations, I have:

Article 1. Object.

1. The purpose of this order is to designate the Directorate-General for Public Health of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs as the responsible health authority to act as a Liaison Centre with the WHO, as provided for in Article 4 of the Health Regulations. International (2005), and with the Early Warning and Response System for the surveillance and control of communicable diseases of the European Commission, established by Commission Decision 2000 /57/EC of 22 December 1999.

2. In addition, the provisions of the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network regarding the reporting of cases of bird flu in humans are completed, in accordance with the requirements of the International Health Regulations (2005) and in compliance with resolution WHA59.2, adopted on 26 May 2006 at the 59th World Health Assembly.

Article 2. Notification.

1. The public and private sector, in the exercise of their profession, has an obligation to notify the Network of Surveillance of its Autonomous Community or City with an urgent nature within a maximum of 24 hours. Autonomy, every possible, probable or confirmed human case of bird flu. The case definition to be applied and the minimum information that will be collected from each case will be the ones found in the protocols of the National Plan of Preparedness and Response to a Pandemic of Influenza.

2. Those responsible for Public Health of the Autonomous Communities and Cities with a Statute of Autonomy shall communicate to the Directorate-General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, as a matter of urgency, the information collected in the event of of a possible, probable or confirmed case of bird flu in people. 3. The competent authority of each Autonomous Community or City with Autonomy Statute shall regulate the information circuit, including monitoring, in accordance with its powers and within its territory.

Article 3. Adoption of complementary action measures.

The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs will agree with the Autonomous Communities and Cities with Autonomy Statute, within the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, the measures of action and coordination and the actions that are considered accurate for the correct and effective implementation of this order.

Final disposition first. Regulatory enablement.

This order is dictated in accordance with the provisions of article 149.1.16. of the Constitution and under the provisions of Articles 40.12 and 13 of Law 14/1986 of 25 April, General of Health, Article 65 of the Law 16/2003, of 28 May, of cohesion and quality of the National Health System, and in accordance with the provisions of the final disposition of Royal Decree 2210/1995, of December 28, for which the National Network of Epidemiological Surveillance is created.

Final disposition second. Entry into force.

This order shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the "Official State Gazette".

Madrid, 15 December 2006. -Minister for Health and Consumer Affairs, Elena Salgado Méndez.