Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the name given to the new coronavirus of 2019. COVID-19 is the name given to the disease associated with the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans. Next table shows european countries with reported laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. Data […]
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Allergenicity assessment of GM plants: stakeholders to support working group
EFSA is setting up a stakeholder consultative group to support its upcoming work on the allergenicity assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants. The group will be consulted at various stages during the process and will provide input to the EFSA scientific working group in charge of the activity. Nominations for membership of the stakeholder group […]
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How COVID-19 damages the lungs
A team of EU-backed researchers has compared the lungs of coronavirus victims and patients dead from influenza-associated respiratory failure. Why does the coronavirus impact the lungs so brutally? Partially supported by the EU-funded XHaLe project, a team of researchers set out to help answer this question and achieved new insights into the effects of SARS-CoV-2 […]
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Covid-19: Support for vaccine research with additional €100 million
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global partnership created in 2017 to develop vaccines to prevent future epidemics, has launched a call to support the rapid development and global manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines. The EU will co-fund the call with €100 million. The EU support is part of the pledge to invest €1 billion from Horizon […]
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Humanitarian Aid: €64 million for most vulnerable in Southern Africa
The Commission is providing €64.7 million in humanitarian aid for countries in the southern Africa region to help support people in need dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, extreme weather conditions such as persistent drought in the region and other crises. Financing projects by country Funding from this aid package will go for humanitarian projects in […]
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COVID-19: how the EU is fighting youth unemployment
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the pandemic is having a “devastating and disproportionate” impact on youth employment, while recent figures show that young people face major obstacles in continuing their training and education, changing jobs and accessing the labour market. Before the pandemic, youth unemployment in the EU (15-24 years old) was 14.9%, […]
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Coronavirus: How to prepare for future outbreaks
The Commission has presented immediate short-term measures to strengthen EU health preparedness for COVID-19 outbreaks. The Commission has from the outset coordinated the exchange of information and recommendations with regard to cross border health actions and measures. A continued vigilance and fast response from the Commission and the Member States is essential to ensure that the […]
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Air pollution affects brain development
90% of brain development happens by the age of four, so scientists want to understand the effects of air pollution at the earliest stages of life. Barcelona as an example Between 1981 and 1989, 26 outbreaks of asthma were reported in the Spanish city with many cases centred around the harbour. Local scientists eventually […]
Read MoreMEPs want more role for EU in improving public health
In a debate on public health strategy, MEPs pointed out that the pandemic has shown that the EU needs better tools to deal with health emergencies. MEPs discussed the issue with Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides and the German Presidency of the Council, before voting on Friday on a resolution on the public health strategy following […]
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