The World Health Organisation and other public health bodies created unnecessary panic about the H1N1 influenza pandemic, says a draft report compiled by the deputy chair of the Council of Europe's health committee.

The report's author, British MP Paul Flynn, says the WHO "gambled away" public confidence by overstating the dangers posed by the flu pandemic. Mr Flynn says there is a huge discrepancy between the estimated death toll and the number of people who actually died. Initial estimates predicted about 65,000 deaths in the UK but the actual death toll as of January 2010 was 360. The MP says the difference undermines trust in the UN health organisation.

According to the British newspaper the Guardian, which has seen a copy of the draft, Mr Flynn says the loss of credibility could endanger lives: "This decline in confidence could be risky in the future. When the next pandemic arises many people may not give full credibility to recommendations put forward by WHO. They may refuse to be vaccinated and put their own health and lives at risk".

The report also accuses the WHO of a lack of transparency and questions the independence of the organisation's advisory groups and experts. Some members of the advisory groups received funding from pharmaceutical companies making antiviral drugs and flu vaccines.

The Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly is holding an enquiry into the handling of the flu pandemic by European governments. The final report is expected at the end of April.