Dr. Vytenis Andriukaitis:

We are ready to organise a conference in March. We are inviting all stakeholders. Of course I am speaking about vaccination possibilities. Two vaccines are on the way. They are going through a second clinical trial period. Some scientists envision that these vaccines will be ready for approval in the middle of this year. If they are successful, first of all we will vaccinate our medical staff who are on the front line. Then we will see about the possibility of disseminating the vaccines in a broader context.

The Ebola virus is under control today, but the challenge is huge. I would like to say openly that I was there. I saw huge poverty and illiteracy on the ground. They do not know anything about minimum hygiene standards. They have no water, no sanitation, no toilets and no electricity. Millions of people have no possibilities to wash their hands. Can the members of the committee imagine such an environment? The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact rather than through the air. All the human figures must make contact as they go around because of the way the sinks are on the ground. We must strengthen their sanitation capacities. Simple measures are needed to stop ways of transmission. The same thing applies to all infectious diseases. I remember the effective use of sanitation stations during the Soviet period.

They live in conditions that are like the descriptions of London in the 19th century. Charles Dickens famously described this picture. I saw this picture on the ground. Can members imagine such a situation? They do not speak about the health care system in such countries. It does not exist. There are 76 doctors in Guinea for 9 million inhabitants. That is the system about which we are speaking. We must use nurses and social workers to help low-level workers to improve their sanitation capacities. It is so evident. I would like to say that we are ready to act. Of course the EU is on the higher level. Frankly speaking, we do not have an environment for spreading this. It is impossible. It is dangerous for countries which have the same economic conditions, but not for the European continent. Of course it is of concern individually and personally. We have preparedness. Our system works very well. It is okay.