Communicable disease threats report, 5-11 June 2016, week 23
The ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) is a weekly bulletin for epidemiologists and health professionals on active public health threats. This issue covers the period 5-11 June 2016 and includes updates on Zika virus, an outbreak of enterovirus and yellow fever.
Executive Summary
Zika outbreaks - global monitoring
Imported cases in the EU and EEA countries
As of 10 June 2016, ECDC has recorded 780 imported cases in 20 EU/EEA countries. Fourty of the imported cases are pregnant women. The number of imported cases reported is not based on a systematic reporting surveillance system hence cannot be considered exhaustive.
Congenital malformations associated with Zika virus infection have been reported by eleven countries or territories. In the EU, Spain and Slovenia report some congenital malformations cases associated with travel in the affected area.
The Americas
The spread of the Zika virus epidemic in the Americas is likely to continue as the vectors (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes) are widely distributed there. The likelihood of travel-related cases in the EU is increasing. A detailed risk assessment is available here.
As neither treatment nor vaccines are available, prevention is based on personal protection measures. Pregnant women should consider to postpone non-essential travel to Zika-affected areas. ECDC assessment is however limited by the absence of regular notification at state level of the cases of Zika virus disease in Brazil. A close monitoring of surveillance data would be needed, especially as the Olympic Games are approaching.
UEFA EURO 2016 - mass gathering
Mass gathering events, such as European football cup, involve a large number of visitors present in an area at the same time. This may increase the risk of communicable disease outbreaks and non-communicable health risks, including heat stroke, crowd injury and drug- and alcohol-related conditions.
During June 2016, ECDC will undertake enhanced event-based, daily surveillance as part of its routine epidemic intelligence activities. Detected events requiring further attention will be reported through the weekly CDTR.
West Nile virus monitoring
In week 22, 2016 ECDC started the seasonal monitoring of West Nile fever and will publish updated West Nile maps for the 2016 transmission season. As of 9 June, no human cases of West Nile fever have been reported in the EU and neighbouring countries.
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