Communicable disease threats report, 4 January 2013, week 1
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. Summarising information gathered by ECDC through its epidemic intelligence activities regarding communicable disease threats of concern to the European Union, it also 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.
Executive summary
From 30 December 2012 to 5 January 2013, ECDC monitored several ongoing public health threats within and outside the European Union.
As of 3 January 2013, 74 patients have been diagnosed with dengue after returning from Madeira: 10 in Portugal, 23 in the UK, 19 in Germany, three in France, five in Sweden, four in Finland, two in Denmark, two in Austria, and two in Norway. Croatia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland have all reported one case each. It is possible that there is an under-reporting of imported cases due to the holiday period. ECDC published an updated rapid risk assessment concerning the autochthonous dengue cases in Madeira on 20 November as well as an epidemiological update on the ECDC website on 13 December.
This Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) also includes information about Influenza. During week 52/2012, four countries reported medium intensity transmission. Geographic spread of influenza activity was reported as widespread by five countries and nine countries reported increasing trends. ECDC has updated its influenza website for the start of the season.
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