COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 21, 2002 (ENS) - Representatives of governments in the World Health Organization's European Region and international organizations are establishing a chemical incident alert system to meet any deliberate use of chemical agents by terrorists in Europe.

A meeting earlier this month in Copenhagen organized by United Nations agencies and the World Health Organization (WHO) heard evidence from officials in charge of anti-terrorist activities, poison centers, emergency preparedness units and national surveillance systems, and from the international organizations most involved in this area.

Terrorism involving chemicals could not only cause explosions but also affect the public through food, air and other routes.

Work is now underway to devise an international incident scale that will quickly identify the severity of an incident. Delegates also agreed to share expertise and capabilities through a permanent forum.

“We do not know when or if there will be a chemical attack, but we know, from our experience in handling other crises involving chemical accidents, that preparation saves time and saves lives,” said Dr. Roberto Bertollini, director, Division of Technical Support at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. His statement reflects the views of the government representatives at the meeting.

The city of London, among others, would be protected by the new alert system. (Photo courtesy Freefoto.com)

In the last six month period for which figures are available, 704 chemical incidents took place in the United Kingdom, three of which affected more than 50 people.

Major incidents in Europe include the explosion in a warehouse at a fertilizer factory in Toulouse, France, in September 2001, which killed 31 people and injured over 2,000 people, and the explosion in a fireworks factory in Enschede, Netherlands in May 2000, which killed 20 people and injured hundreds more.

“Fighting chemical terrorism involves not only international cooperation but close collaboration, planning and integration across a host of different sectors and experts. This allows a fast and efficient response in emergencies, and it also strengthens public services overall,” said Professor Gary Coleman of the International Clearing House for Major Chemical Incidents in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Most countries have already developed key areas of their capability to respond to chemical incidents.

Actions range from setting up specialized agencies, such as a health protection agency or emergency committees, to establishing a local website that coordinates information from the rescue services and then informs the public.

The participants agreed that, if public health is to be protected against chemical terrorism, cooperation between countries and organizations in Europe is essential to help build on existing initiatives and systems.