Communicable disease threats report, 18-24 January 2015, week 4

 This issue covers the period 18 to 24 January 2015 and includes updates on:

Seasonal influenza – Europe

In week 03/2015, the number of countries with increased influenza activity continued to rise in Europe, particularly in the west and north, and the proportion of sentinel specimens testing positive for influenza virus increased to 40% from 35% in the previous week.

 

Although influenza activity remained low in most countries, 15 of 39 countries reported medium activity. Influenza A(H3N2) viruses continued to predominate in most countries.

 Poliomyelitis

During the past week, seven cases of wild poliovirus have been reported to WHO from Pakistan. Six of the cases had onset of disease in 2014 and one case in 2015.

Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic - West Africa 

Since the last CDTR, and as of 18 January 2015, WHO has reported 297 additional confirmed, probable and suspected Ebola virus disease cases and 182 additional deaths. This brings the total number of reported cases to 21 759, with 8 668 deaths. According to the WHO case incidence continues to fall in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

On 18 January 2015, the Government of Mali and WHO declared the country Ebola free, 42 days after the last patient tested negative on 6 December 2014.

On 21 January, WHO published a statement following the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the event continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).