Definitions
Article 2
For the purposes of this Regulation: (a) ‘competent body’ shall mean any structure, institute, agent or other scientific body recognised by Member States authorities as providing independent scientific and technical advice or capacity for action in the field of the prevention and control of human disease; (b) “prevention and control of human disease” shall mean the range of measures taken by the competent public health authorities in the Member States to prevent and stop the spread of disease; (c) “dedicated surveillance network” shall mean any specific network on diseases or special health issues selected for epidemiological surveillance between accredited structures and authorities of the Member States; (d) “communicable diseases” shall mean the categories of disease listed in the Annex to Decision No 2119/98/EC; (e) “health threat” shall mean a condition, agent or incident which may cause, directly or indirectly, ill health; (f) “epidemiological surveillance” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Decision No 2119/98/EC. (g) “Community network” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Decision No 2119/98/EC; (h) “early warning and response system” shall mean the network in accordance with Decision No 2119/98/EC for the prevention and control of communicable diseases, formed by bringing the Commission and the competent public health authorities in each Member State into permanent communication with one another through appropriate means specified in Commission Decision 2000/57/EC of 22 December 1999 on the early warning and response system for the prevention and control of communicable diseases under Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 5 ) .