In its report, Commission concludes that figures for the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) of the Community Network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in 2006 and 2007 confirm previous years' trends, as the number and typology of messages notified were comparable to 2004 and 2005. ‘Information level’ messages accounted for most of the EWRS messages.

The report put forward by the Commission is intended to inform the Council and Parliament about the events due to communicable diseases of Community relevance notified during 2006 and 2007 through the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) under Decision 2119/98/EC1 of the Council and Parliament and Commission Decision 2000/57/EC.

• During 2006 a total of 138 messages were posted (2.6 messages/week), with 223 comments. Of the 138 messages, 37 were information messages, 47 activation level 1 messages, 22 activation level 2, and two activation level 3 messages. Of the 30 messages posted in response to specific events, 16 were about the adoption of measures, nine coordination of measures, and five intended or planned measures.
• During 2007 a total of 85 messages were posted (1.6 messages/week), with a total of 300 comments. Of the 85 messages, 26 were information messages, 32 activation level 1 messages, three activation level 2 messages, and one was an activation level 3 message. 23 messages concerned measures taken in response to specific situations (12 messages on adopted measures, eight on coordination of measures, and three on intended measures).

The total number of messages circulated in 2007 was fewer than in 2006. This most probably results from the higher number of messages related to avian influenza events notified in 2006 rather than from a change in the notification process.

Additional analysis of the messages notified since the EWRS IT tool was launched (1999) is planned and should generate further evidence on the trend of EWRS use over time and will be instrumental in streamlining the use of the system, focusing more on management issues than on assessment.

As in previous years, only a limited number of the events reported in 2006 and 2007 required Community-wide coordination. This report has focused on the events which triggered such responses at different levels and which have spotlighted a number of specific areas calling for closer attention.

ECDC assessment of events reported vs. notification criteria

European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was asked by the Commission to carry out an assessment of whether the events reported under Decision 2119/98/EC matched the criteria specified in Annex I to Decision 2000/57/EC. The purpose was to provide the Commission and the Member States with scientific evidence to strengthen reporting arrangements under the current EU legislation on communicable diseases and to provide a basis for using the IT tools more efficiently.

Compliance with the notification criteria in Decision 2000/57/EC appears to be good, although there is significant room for improvement. The assessment revealed some difficulties in evaluating whether the reported events matched the EWRS criteria on the exclusive basis of the information provided in the core message. The two main criteria associated with the reporting process are:

• The spatial or temporal clustering of cases of disease with a risk of propagation between Member States within the Community (criterion 2)
• The occurrence of a disease that might require coordinated and timely Community action to contain it (criterion 4)

Early Warning Rapid Alert System (EWRS) has been at the core of the coordinated action taken by the Commission in its efforts to take action against the novel flu virus which is currently under surveillance. Exchange of information and coordination is crucial in order to give rapid response for such cases at Community level.