Annual Epidemiological Report for Zoonotic influenza, 2014

No human cases of avian influenza were reported in the EU/EEA. Sporadic cases were reported from Africa and Asia.

Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli poses a significant threat to patients and healthcare systems in all European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections are associated with high mortality, primarily due to delays in administration of effective treatment and the limited availability of treatment options. Hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae strains have been reported presenting an additional threat with a potential for global dissemination. The spread of high risk clones and plasmids carrying carbapenemases in healthcare settings is a major cause of the spread of CRE in EU/EEA countries. Recent events of cross-border importation after patient transfer and large regional outbreaks as well as the worsening epidemiologic situation of carbapenemase-producing CRE in the EU/EEA highlight the high risk for further spread of CRE and the need for enhanced control efforts. Options for control are outlined in the respective section below.

For 2017, EU/EEA countries reported one case of yellow fever. The travel-related case was reported by the Netherlands with exposure in Suriname.

For 2018, one case of travel-related rabies with exposure in Morocco was reported by the United Kingdom.

In 2014, a total of 16 cases of anthrax was reported by four EU/EEA countries. One case was reported as a confirmed case. The remaining 26 reporting countries notified zero cases.

This report is based on data for 2015 retrieved from The European Surveillance System (TESSy) on 12 December 2016.

For 2018, no cases of plague were reported by EU/EEA countries.

The WHO European Region was declared polio-free in 2002. Neither wild-type nor vaccine-type viruses were notified in the WHO European Region in 2016, but the risk of importation and subsequent transmission remain high in some countries.

ECDC’s annual surveillance reports provide a wealth of epidemiological data to support decision-making at the national level. They are mainly intended for public health professionals and policymakers involved in disease prevention and control programmes.