Infectious diseases threaten the health of the citizens of the European Community. Therefore, preventing the transmission of emerging pathogens and the resurgence of others, as well as enhancing the rapid and co-ordinated response capability to these threats, is a responsibility shared among national health authorities and the European Commission.

The emergence of HIV and AIDS, the re-emergence of tuberculosis, the appearance of variant Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease serve to illustrate the diversity of the threats to health, and the range of factors influencing their spread, that are posed by micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. Epidemiological surveillance of these and other communicable diseases can bring about interventions that contribute to the reduction of morbidity and/or mortality. The introduction of strict quality and safety criteria for the handling of substances of human origin is another important public health measure. 

Moreover, countering health threats from physical, chemical or biological sources, including those relating to terrorist acts, as well as from environmental agents, such as ionising and non-ionising radiation and noise, can benefit from the development and use of Community approaches and mechanisms, including vaccination and immunisation strategies.

The Community's public health programme related to 'Threats to health' endeavours to address these issues. It specifically aims to further the development of a variety of communicable disease surveillance networks and early warning and rapid response systems (Decision 2119/98/EC), address the problems of antimicrobial resistance and bioterrorism, and develop strategies for preventing and responding to communicable disease (e.g. influenza preparedness and protection against intentional epidemics) and non-communicable disease threats.

It also addresses issues related to the quality and safety of substances of human origin (e.g. blood, tissues and cells, and organs), as specifically referred to in Article 152 of the EC Treaty, in order to prevent the transmission of pathogens by these therapeutic materials.

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Communicable diseases
Member States and the Commission unite their forces in combating communicable diseases that pose a threat to European citizens through European Union surveillance and rapid response to events.

Blood, tissues, organs
Blood, tissues, cells, and organs are very important for the treatment of many severe diseases, but they may also carry risks for their recipients. The aim of Community action in this area is to help reduce these risks as far as possible.

Non-communicable diseases
Health threats can not only be posed by communicable pathogens, such as influenza or HIV, but also by physical, chemical, climatic, geological, mechanical or other sources.