ECDC plays an important role in providing its stakeholders with scientific advice when requested. On 23 September 2010 ECDC received such a request from the European Commission’s DG SANCO (Directorate C – Public Health and Risk Assessment).

Most European countries reported no changes in the rate of newly diagnosed cases of HIV or HIV prevalence in IDU in 2011.

Following a request from the European Commission in August 2010, ECDC assessed the epidemiological history of Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) across the world, possible risks of HTLV transmission through transplantation of human tissues and cells, and possible measures to prevent such transmission.

In May 2011, the European Commission asked ECDC to estimate the change in total exposure risk to hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during reproductive cell handling and storage for secondary parties, if the current scheme of testing at each cell donation would change to testing partner donors of reproductive cells once or twice a year.

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.

The aim of this document is to assess the health risks related to communicable diseases and other health threats for European citizens during their stay in Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup (‘Brazil 2014’) and the public health implications for European countries after the travellers’ return to Europe.

This rapid risk assessment reviews the health risks related to communicable diseases in the context of the WorldPride festival in Madrid, from 23 June to 2 July 2017.

This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 25-31 March 2018 and includes updates on dengue, chikungunya, measles, listeria, Borna diseases and gonorrhoeae.