In response to a notified increase in HIV cases among injecting drug users (IDU) in Greece and Romania, the European Commission asked the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in November 2011 to conduct a rapid inquiry to HIV surveillance contact points and national drug focal points in the EU/EEA Member States, candidate and potential candidate countries. The aim was to investigate possible recent increases in HIV infections detected among IDU.

While most European countries reported no changes in the rate of newly diagnosed cases of HIV or HIV prevalence in IDU in 2011, six countries did report increases. In addition, several countries reported increases in injecting risk indicators or low coverage of prevention services among IDU. This indicates a potential risk for increased HIV transmission and future outbreaks.

Joint ECDC and EMCDDA rapid risk assessment: HIV in injecting drug users in the EU/EEA, following a reported increase of cases in Greece and Romania

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