L 86/44 Official Journal of the European Communities 3.4.2002 COMMISSION DECISION of 19 March 2002 laying down case definitions for reporting communicable diseases to the Community network under Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2002) 1043) (2002/253EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community ('), and in partic- ular Article 3(c) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Member States should communicate information on the epidemiological development and emergence of public health threats due to communicable diseases using the Community network in a way which allows compari- sons to be made for preventive and control action to be taken at Community and national level. (2)  For comparability of such information, the setting up of common case definitions is a prerequisite even where disease-specific surveillance networks have not yet been put in place. As soon as this Decision comes into effect these case definitions should be used for reporting to the Community network, and should comply with regula- tions on individual data protection. (3)  The case definitions which allow comparable reporting should comprise a tiered system allowing Member States' structures and/or authorities flexibility in commu- nicating information on diseases and special health issues. In particular, these case definitions will facilitate reporting on diseases listed in Commission Decision 2000/96/EC (). (4)  Case definitions should be constructed to enable all Member States to participate in the reporting to the greatest extent possible, using data from their existing systems. They should allow for different levels of sensi- tivity and specificity according to the different goals of () O] L 268, 3.10.1998, p. 1. 0] L 28, 3.2.2000, p. 50. information collection and they should be easy to amend. (5)  The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Decision No 2119/98/EC, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 For the purposes of submitting data for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases under the provisions of Decision No 2119/98/EC, and in particular Article 4 thereof, Member States shall apply the case definitions specified in the Annex. Article 2 This Decision will be adapted to the extent necessary on the basis of the latest scientific data. Article 3 This Decision shall apply as of 1 January 2003. Atrticle 4 This Decision is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 19 March 2002. For the Commission David BYRNE Member of the Commission