Joint Action to strengthen health preparedness and

response to biological and chemical terror attacks

DG SANTE

Unit C3 – Crisis management and preparedness in health

24 June, 2019

EU health security framework – Decision 1082 serious cross-border health threat

Preparedness and response planning

Vaccination

Joint Procurement

AMR

Food safety and animal health, pharmaceutical products

EU Civil Protection Mechanism, European Medical Corps, Disaster Risk Reduction

Security Union; EU CBRN Action Plan; hybrid threat framework

EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020

Bilateral development programmes – IHR and health systems strengthening

Health preparedness to terror attacks

• Exchange of lessons learnt in the Health Security Committee on recent conventional attacks • Preparedness plans, manuals, e.g., training manual by France on

damage control strategies to improve health sector preparedness;

• Background paper on preparedness and response to terrorist attacks; technical action plan on preparedness and IHR implementation

• Capacity building under the Health Programme, intersectroal exercises, trainings, workshops • Joint Actions of Member States on preparedness, laboratory

strengthening, points of entry

• Re-engineering of the Early Warning and Response System

• Medical countermeasures (joint procurement, vaccination, rapid exchange via EWRS)

• 2015 European Security Agenda

• 2017 Counterterrorism package • Action Plan to enhance preparedness against chemical, biological,

radiological and nuclear security risks

• Action plan on the protection of public spaces

• Union Civil Protection Mechanism, rescEU

• Joint Framework on hybrid threats (2016) Joint Communication (2018) on increasing resilience and bolstering capacities to address hybrid threats

DG HOME, ECHO, GROW, EEAS, other relevant Commission services and EU agencies (Europol, ECDC, etc.)

Related policy frameworks on security, hybrid threats – including ..

Exercise Chimera Luxembourg, 30 - 31 January 2018

Health, civil protection and security sectors

EU Member States, EEA countries plus Serbia and Moldova, Commission services, ECDC, EEAS, EU Hybrid Fusion Cell,

Council Secretariat, WHO and NATO

Background/Rationale (1)

• Terrorism events across Europe and globally & concern amongst EU citizens on security and terrorism • Health Programme thematic priority to protect citizens from cross-border health threats

• New emerging threats • Biological and chemical terrorism, cyber attacks on infrastructure, hybrid

threats • ‘DIY’ biology and DNA synthesis has also increased potential ability of

non state actors to produce chemical and biological agents

• Commitment from MS is essential

• Identify gaps and priorities for collaboration & exchange of information and best practices

• Strengthen cooperation between health, security and civil protection services

Background/Rationale (2) • Examples of foiled attempts and executed biological and

chemical intentional releases: • 1978: Ricin poisoning of Georgi Markov in the U.K • 1984: Salmonella release in Oregon, U.S. • 1995: Sarin attack in Tokyo underground, Japan • 2001: Anthrax letter attacks in the U.S. • 2002: Theatre crisis in Moscow, Russia • 2006: Killing of Alexander Litvinenko in U.K.* • 2018: Use of Novichok agent in Salisbury, U.K • 2018: Ricin bomb plot in Cologne, Germany • 2019: Contaminated parcels to consulates and embassies in Australia • 2011-Present: Large scale use of chemical agents in Syrian conflict

• There is also a plethora of online threats for a biological or chemical release directed towards Europe

Agent: radioactive polonium-210

Threat agents with significant weapons potential

Member States’ Preparedness for CBRN Threats – European Parliament TERR Committee http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2018/604960/IPOL_STU(2018)604960_EN.pdf

Policy Expectations (1)

• Objective:

• Protect EU populations from intentional health crises. Security remains a high priority for the Commission

• Address gaps in health preparedness & strengthen cross-sectoral work (health, security & civil protection sectors), in response to a biological and/or chemical terror attack

• Builds on work of earlier and current Joint Actions:

• EMERGE; SHARP; Healthy Gateways

• Sustainability of the results of the Joint Action

Policy Expectations (2)

• Specifically:

• Preparedness and response planning for bio/chem attacks

• Threat detection and risk assessment

• Bridging health, security and civil protection actors

• Diagnosis and treatments

• MCM availability and rapid response

• Non-pharmaceutical control measures

• Risk and crisis communication between and across sectors

• Rapid information exchange, consultation and coordination between MS and different sectors

Possible Activities (1)

• Sharing experience & guidelines of mass events across European cities

• Guidelines for risk/threat assessments & joint incident evaluation across sectors

• Mapping key laboratory and specialised treatment capacities, improving availability and rapid deployment of medical countermeasures, mechanisms for cross-sectoral collaboration

• Review of risks and guidelines for DNA synthesis and ‘DIY’ biology

Possible Activities (2)

• Targeted trainings on damage control techniques to improve health system preparedness

• Developing/updating clinical case management guidelines

• Cross-sectoral capacity building through exercises, trainings and developing networks

• Supporting crisis management including emergency operations, non-pharmaceutical countermeasures and risk communication

Linkages and differentiation

• Linkages to work undertaken in other JAs, such as: Laboratory support for analysis of samples; Specialised treatment capacities; Management of borders

• But, this JA is focused on intentional events, which are therefore severe and unexpected emergencies and would involve different sectors: health, security and civil protection

• Thus, terror attack scenarios necessitate specific preparedness and response measures and structures given increased complexity, urgency, uncertainty and variety of actors involved

Budget & Timeline

• Budget: 5,000,000

• Exceptional utility expected (EC funding at 80%)

• Next steps

• Development of the JA structure and proposal

• Submission

• Quality assurance workshop

• Kick-off

Thank you!

http://ec.Europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?sitelang=en&ref=I115268

https://ec.europa.eu/health/home_en