<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"Italy's leading public-health body has recently published data relating to the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis within the country's population. The figures (there were 309 cases in 1999 as against 109 in 1994) are alarming.  Pneumococcal meningitis is caused by bacteria, as are meningococcal meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis) and haemophilus influenzae meningitis, and is spread through the air (by coughs and sneezes), although most children are what are known as healthy carriers. However, those at most risk are close friends and relatives of such carriers and effective treatment calls for prompt action, since the illness is fatal in 60 % of cases.  1.Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs?  2.Does it hold similar data from other EU Member States and the applicant countries?  3.Does it intend to have research carried out in order to determine the incidence of meningitis in the EU Member States and the applicant countries, at least over the last four years?  4.What action does it intend to take in order to ensure that the Member States' health ministries do what is necessary to prevent any further spread of the disease?"
Analyze carefully the text and assign it to the most relevant policy area among those listed below. Do not explain your answer and return only a number.
Policy area numbers: 1 = Macroeconomics
2 = Civil Rights, Minority Issues and Civil Liberties
3 = Health
4 = Agriculture and Fisheries
5 = Labour, employment and pensions
6 = Education
7 = Environment
8 = Energy
9 = Immigration
10 = Transportation
12 = Law and Crime
13 = Social welfare
14 = Regional and Urban issues and Planning
15 = Banking, finance and domestic commerce issues
16 = Defence
17 = Space, science, technology, and communications issues
18 = Foreign trade
19 = International affairs and foreign aid
20 = Governance and government
21 = Public Lands, Water Management and Territorial Issues
23 = Culture and media
[/INST]. Answer = [3]. </s>
Italy's leading public-health body has recently published data relating to the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis within the country's population. The figures (there were 309 cases in 1999 as against 109 in 1994) are alarming.  Pneumococcal meningitis is caused by bacteria, as are meningococcal meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis) and haemophilus influenzae meningitis, and is spread through the air (by coughs and sneezes), although most children are what are known as healthy carriers. However, those at most risk are close friends and relatives of such carriers and effective treatment calls for prompt action, since the illness is fatal in 60 % of cases.  1.Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs?  2.Does it hold similar data from other EU Member States and the applicant countries?  3.Does it intend to have research carried out in order to determine the incidence of meningitis in the EU Member States and the applicant countries, at least over the last four years?  4.What action does it intend to take in order to ensure that the Member States' health ministries do what is necessary to prevent any further spread of the disease?