From 27 January to 1 February 2013, ECDC monitored several on-going public health threats within and outside the European Union.

Weekly reporting on influenza surveillance in Europe for the 2012-13 season started in October 2012 with active influenza transmission beginning around week 49/2012, approximately six weeks earlier than in season 2011/2012. Influenza activity continued to rise in week 4/2013 across Europe, although the epidemic may have passed its peak in some north-western countries. ECDC monitors influenza activity in Europe during the winter seasons and publishes the results in the Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview.

The Health Protection Agency reported a new measles outbreak in the North East of the UK. Forty-six cases have been confirmed since the beginning of September 2012 with a further 50 suspected cases. The majority of infections occurred in unvaccinated school children and young adults with over half of the patients aged between 10 and 30 years. Furthermore, a quarter of the infected patients required hospital treatment.

So far in 2013, only the UK has reported outbreaks of measles. ECDC closely monitors measles transmission and outbreaks in the EU and neighbouring countries in Europe through enhanced surveillance and epidemic intelligence activities. Results are presented in the monthly Measles and rubella monitoring reports.

The ECDC communicable disease threats report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control.

Read the full Communicable Disease Threats Report, week 5/2013

Read more:
Weekly influenza surveillance overview, 1 February 2013
Influenza virus characterisation: Summary Europe December 2012
Watch ECDC video on seasonal influenza
View influenza surveillance maps