Monitoring current threats: ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR), week 43/2014

​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. This issue covers the period from 19 to 25 October 2014 and includes updates on:

Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemicSince the publication of the last CDTR, the affected countries have reported 939 additional cases and 384 additional fatalities. Senegal and Nigeria were declared Ebola free by WHO. On 23 October 2014, CDC confirmed that a medical aid worker who volunteered in Guinea and recently returned to the United States has tested positive for Ebola in New York City. In addition, the Ministry of Health in Mali has reported that a two-year-old girl who recently arrived from Guinea has tested positive for Ebola. This is the first confirmed case of Ebola virus infection in Mali.

ECDC published an epidemiological update on 24 October.

Chikungunya virus disease – FranceOn 21 October 2014, WHO was officially notified by France of four cases of chikungunya infection locally-acquired in Montpellier, France. The cases were confirmed by tests on 20 October 2014. This is the first time that locally-acquired transmission of chikungunya has been detected in France since 2010. On 23 October, one additional autochthonous case was reported in the same neighbourhood of the four cases.

Seasonal influenzaCompared with the previous season (2013-2014), influenza activity in the European region is low. A weekly joint update from ECDC and the WHO Regional office for Europe, Flu News Europe, was launched on 10 October replacing the Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview (WISO).

West Nile FeverDuring the past week, Romania reported one new confirmed case in the previously affected Olt district. In neighbouring countries, no new cases were reported. See the updated West Nile Fever maps.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV)During the past week, 11 cases have been reported from the following countries: Saudi Arabia (9), Turkey (1) and Qatar (1). ECDC published an epidemiological update on 22 October.

Related links:

• Communicable disease threats report, 19-25 October 2014, week 43

• Previous Communicable disease threat reports

• Ebola Outbreak page

• Chikungunya health topic page

• Flu News Europe

• Influenza health topic page

• West Nile Fever health topic page

• MERS-CoV health topic page