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European infectious diseases centre takes shape
POLICY AND PEOPLE
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n Sept 8, India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests released a new set of rules governing the use of animals in scientific research. The Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998, have been formulated using the provisions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The panel that suggested these rules is headed by animal-rights activist Maneka Gandhi, who is also the union minister for welfare. The new rules require prior permission for all animal experiments from a central panel, registration of breeders and of establishments using animals. It also lays down stringent conditions for experiments involving animals. Biologists point out that the definition of experiment under the new rules seems to identify any manoeuvre, such as injection, drawing of blood &c, done on a single animal as constituting one single experiment. “If these rules are implemented, it will not be possible to conduct any legitimate scientific experiment of biomedical consequences. This will limit our ability to develop any new thereauptic measures”, commented Sandip K Basu, Director of the New Delhi-based National Institute of Immunology, which is involved in several vaccine-development projects. Basu says the clause on registration of breeders will make impossible “friendly” exchange of animals with scientists abroad. Some of the rules may be hard to implement. One of them says that all anaesthesia shall be administered by a veterinary surgeon, while another requires scientists to forward reports of completion of experiments to the central panel that will grant permissions. Manju Sharma, secretary of the Department of Biotechnology says that while cruelty against animals must be prevented, “we need to devise a simpler mode of implementing these rules, by decentralising grant of permissions”. The scientific communisty has 30 days to make suggestions, after which the draft rules will become part of the law.
Dinesh Sharma
THE LANCET • Vol 352 • September 19, 1998
European infectious diseases centre takes shape ast weekend, the international board of scientific advisors for a project to establish a European equivalent of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention met for the first time. Experts from Europe, the USA, Brazil, and India met in Montpellier, France (Sept 11–12) to discuss the aims and implementation of a European Centre for Infectious Disease (ECID). The centre will closely parallel the US CDC in that it will consist of a “main centre with walls, completed by outstations in other countries, not only in Europe, but also in developing countries”, says Michel Tibayrenc (ORSTOM, Montpellier, France), the coordinator of the project. “The three main aims of ECID, namely: advanced research; surveillance, control, and prevention [of disease]; and training were confirmed at the meeting”, continues Tibayrenc. “By bringing together bench researchers, field experts, epidemiol-
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ogists, clinicians and so on, we envisage the study of infectious diseases in a global manner, including all the parameters of the transmission chain of infectious diseases”, he adds. Disease surveillance, control, and prevention must remain a matter of national sovereignty, noted advisory board members. But, here again, said Dan Colley (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA), the parallel with the CDC in the USA is clear. Each US state retains responsibility for surveillance and prevention but the CDC acts as a “higher coordinator, adviser, and data collector”, he explained. The next steps in the establishment of ECID include: drawing up a more detailed project plan; expanding the board of advisors to include clinicians and public-health workers; and gaining more support from scientific societies. For further details of ECID, see http://cepm.mpl.orstom.fr/. Jane Bradbury
Survey on depression in Ireland launched Absenteeism because of depression he largest-ever survey on depresis thought to affect one in 25 workers, sion in Ireland was launchedlast according to another small study carweek in an attempt to get an accurate ried out by AWARE. Furthermore, picture of the extent of the illness depression in the workplace, caused throughout the country. The survey by technological change is likely is to be done via anonymous questo increase rather tionnaires, which will than decrease, added be distributed to McKeon. about 4000 workers McKeon thinks that in 30 companies, the depression ques6000 students, and tionnaires should several thousand remain available on a patients from 53 continuing basis in selected family GP surgeries. “One in surgeries. ten people in the waitPsychiatrist Patrick ing room will have McKeon, head of depression but they AWARE, the support won’t be treated for it group and research because it is difficult agency for depression to recognise. If one in in Ireland, said that until now estimates of Seeking answers on depression ten had anaemia and the doctor didn’t the extent of the know who it was, everyone would problem have been calculated be given a blood test”, he by extrapolating from international said. “Depression is a lot more lifestatistics. threatening so everyone should be Several smaller surveys have shown screened.” that very few people in Ireland AWARE’s launch of its latest consider turning to their general research document—Suicide in practitioner for treatment for depresIreland—coincided with the survey. It sion. In addition most employees shows that mental illness, particularly think depression should be hidden depression or an intoxicant problem, from their employers to the point that is a factor in 90% of suicides. they insist on doctors listing a fictitious illness on medical certificates for work. Karen Birchard
T
Science Photo Library
New animal experiment rules surprise Indian scientists
969
O
n Sept 8, India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests released a new set of rules governing the use of animals in scientific research. The Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998, have been formulated using the provisions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The panel that suggested these rules is headed by animal-rights activist Maneka Gandhi, who is also the union minister for welfare. The new rules require prior permission for all animal experiments from a central panel, registration of breeders and of establishments using animals. It also lays down stringent conditions for experiments involving animals. Biologists point out that the definition of experiment under the new rules seems to identify any manoeuvre, such as injection, drawing of blood &c, done on a single animal as constituting one single experiment. “If these rules are implemented, it will not be possible to conduct any legitimate scientific experiment of biomedical consequences. This will limit our ability to develop any new thereauptic measures”, commented Sandip K Basu, Director of the New Delhi-based National Institute of Immunology, which is involved in several vaccine-development projects. Basu says the clause on registration of breeders will make impossible “friendly” exchange of animals with scientists abroad. Some of the rules may be hard to implement. One of them says that all anaesthesia shall be administered by a veterinary surgeon, while another requires scientists to forward reports of completion of experiments to the central panel that will grant permissions. Manju Sharma, secretary of the Department of Biotechnology says that while cruelty against animals must be prevented, “we need to devise a simpler mode of implementing these rules, by decentralising grant of permissions”. The scientific communisty has 30 days to make suggestions, after which the draft rules will become part of the law.
Dinesh Sharma
THE LANCET • Vol 352 • September 19, 1998
European infectious diseases centre takes shape ast weekend, the international board of scientific advisors for a project to establish a European equivalent of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention met for the first time. Experts from Europe, the USA, Brazil, and India met in Montpellier, France (Sept 11–12) to discuss the aims and implementation of a European Centre for Infectious Disease (ECID). The centre will closely parallel the US CDC in that it will consist of a “main centre with walls, completed by outstations in other countries, not only in Europe, but also in developing countries”, says Michel Tibayrenc (ORSTOM, Montpellier, France), the coordinator of the project. “The three main aims of ECID, namely: advanced research; surveillance, control, and prevention [of disease]; and training were confirmed at the meeting”, continues Tibayrenc. “By bringing together bench researchers, field experts, epidemiol-
L
ogists, clinicians and so on, we envisage the study of infectious diseases in a global manner, including all the parameters of the transmission chain of infectious diseases”, he adds. Disease surveillance, control, and prevention must remain a matter of national sovereignty, noted advisory board members. But, here again, said Dan Colley (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA), the parallel with the CDC in the USA is clear. Each US state retains responsibility for surveillance and prevention but the CDC acts as a “higher coordinator, adviser, and data collector”, he explained. The next steps in the establishment of ECID include: drawing up a more detailed project plan; expanding the board of advisors to include clinicians and public-health workers; and gaining more support from scientific societies. For further details of ECID, see http://cepm.mpl.orstom.fr/. Jane Bradbury
Survey on depression in Ireland launched Absenteeism because of depression he largest-ever survey on depresis thought to affect one in 25 workers, sion in Ireland was launchedlast according to another small study carweek in an attempt to get an accurate ried out by AWARE. Furthermore, picture of the extent of the illness depression in the workplace, caused throughout the country. The survey by technological change is likely is to be done via anonymous questo increase rather tionnaires, which will than decrease, added be distributed to McKeon. about 4000 workers McKeon thinks that in 30 companies, the depression ques6000 students, and tionnaires should several thousand remain available on a patients from 53 continuing basis in selected family GP surgeries. “One in surgeries. ten people in the waitPsychiatrist Patrick ing room will have McKeon, head of depression but they AWARE, the support won’t be treated for it group and research because it is difficult agency for depression to recognise. If one in in Ireland, said that until now estimates of Seeking answers on depression ten had anaemia and the doctor didn’t the extent of the know who it was, everyone would problem have been calculated be given a blood test”, he by extrapolating from international said. “Depression is a lot more lifestatistics. threatening so everyone should be Several smaller surveys have shown screened.” that very few people in Ireland AWARE’s launch of its latest consider turning to their general research document—Suicide in practitioner for treatment for depresIreland—coincided with the survey. It sion. In addition most employees shows that mental illness, particularly think depression should be hidden depression or an intoxicant problem, from their employers to the point that is a factor in 90% of suicides. they insist on doctors listing a fictitious illness on medical certificates for work. Karen Birchard
T
Science Photo Library
New animal experiment rules surprise Indian scientists
969