Locally acquired cases of malaria have been occurring in Greece since 2009, with the highest numbers reported in 2011. In 2012, local malaria transmission was still ongoing, but fewer cases were reported.
Within the context of the West Nile virus outbreaks, an ECDC mission was conducted at the end of the transmission season to support the Greek authorities regarding further response and prevention activities on West Nile virus infections.
Following an invitation from Greek authorities, a team of experts from ECDC, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe visited Greece in May 2012.
This is the first sustained transmission of dengue in the European Union since the 1920s. Autochthonous transmission is likely to continue until the end of the year when mosquito density will probably decrease.
Following report of cases of locally transmitted dengue infection in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal, ECDC has produced a rapid risk assessment.
On 7 and 10 July, the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) reported the first two human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Greece this year. When looking at the epidemiology of WNV infection in Greece since 2010, one can observe a progressive geographical expansion of WNV transmission throughout the country. For this reason, these newly confirmed cases in Athens do not come unexpected.
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.
Following a request by the Romanian government, ECDC conducted a second follow-up country visit to Romania covering HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and hepatitis B and C from 11–13 May 2011.