To support countries in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) in their review of preparedness system planning, ECDC launches an operational checklist for health emergency preparedness for imported cases of high consequence infectious diseases.
In 2019, the hajj will take place between 9 and 14 August. The risk for EU/EEA citizens to become infected with communicable diseases during the 2019 hajj is considered low, thanks to the vaccination requirements for travelling to Makkah (Mecca) and the Saudi Arabian preparedness plans that address the management of health hazards during and after hajj.
In 2017, 82 cases of tetanus, including 46 confirmed cases, were reported in the EU/EEA. Adults aged 65 years and above were the most affected age group, with females accounting for the majority of the cases. Cases tended to occur more frequently in the warmer months, which are associated with higher levels of outdoor activity. The current epidemiology of tetanus in the EU/EEA may be explained by lower vaccination coverage or waning immunity in older populations. Due to the severity of tetanus, there is a need to maintain high vaccination rates in all age groups and continue implementing/developing strategies to protect specific groups, particularly the elderly, in countries with higher rates of disease.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period from 12-18 May 2019 and includes updates on poliomyelitis, chikungunya virus disease and dengue, measles, monkeypox, dengue, Ebola virus disease, influenza, Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo haemmorhagic fever and Legionnaires' disease.