Communicable disease threats report, 11-17 March 2012, week 11

During Week 11 (11-17 March 2012), ECDC monitored three public health threats across the European Union (EU). Since November 2011, Schmallenberg virus has been reported in cattle, sheep and goats in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg and Italy. On 13 March 2012, OIE reported detection of Schmallenberg virus on a sheep farm in Andalusia, Spain. So far no human cases have been reported from the affected countries. In relation to measles, no new outbreaks were detected in the EU during the monitored period. To date, outbreaks or clusters were reported by 14 of the 29 reporting EU and EEA countries in 2012. The highest numbers were noted in Romania, France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom. In neighbouring Ukraine an ongoing major outbreak is of concern, with more than 5 200 cases reported so far in 2012. ECDC has recently published a rapid risk assessment on this outbreak [ADD LINK]. Medium or higher influenza intensity has been reported by 20 countries, decreasing trends in ten countries and increasing trends in only three countries: Latvia, the Netherlands and Romania (compared with eleven countries having increasing trends in week 9). Thirteen countries reported stable trends. The CDTR summarises information gathered by ECDC through its epidemic intelligence activities regarding communicable disease threats of concern to the European Union and provides updates on the global situation and changes in the epidemiology of communicable diseases with potential to affect Europe, including diseases that are the focus of eradication efforts.