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The EU Commission wants to strengthen civil protection – and bunker more iodine tablets

2022-04-06T12:50:33.999Z


With Putin's invasion of Ukraine, fears of a nuclear catastrophe returned to Europe. The EU Commission now wants to stock up on medical equipment – ​​including for “nuclear emergencies”.


Enlarge image

Pack of iodine tablets (symbol image)

Photo: Emily Wabitsch/dpa

In view of the possible dangers of nuclear radiation from the war between Russia and Ukraine, the EU Commission wants to strengthen civil protection.

The Commission is currently building "a new stock of medical equipment for chemical, biological or nuclear emergencies," said EU Civil Protection Commissioner Janez Lenarcic.

This should also include iodine tablets, which are intended to protect the thyroid gland in the event of radioactive contamination.

Almost three million iodine tablets were also delivered to Ukraine with the support of France and Spain, it said.

In its statement, the Brussels authorities did not explicitly address the connection between the stockpiling and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The EU Commission wants to set up or expand its emergency supplies together with the European health authority (Hera).

The authority was founded to provide a better overview of existing stocks of medicines and protective equipment in the 27 member countries.

Hera was founded after the uncoordinated action of the member states at the beginning of the corona pandemic and is intended to ensure that the EU is better armed against health emergencies in the future.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, pharmacists in Germany, among other places, reported an increased demand for iodine tablets.

In the event of a nuclear accident, taking high-dose iodine tablets, specifically potassium iodide pills, is intended to prevent radioactive iodine from being stored in the thyroid gland by saturating the thyroid gland with non-radioactive iodine.

In the current situation, however, both taking and buying the tablets is pointless.

fek/AFP

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-04-06

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