Several viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens are expected to continue co-circulating at variable levels during the coming months, and contribute to increased morbidity and mortality during this period. This is typical of every winter season.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 3-9 December 2023 and includes updates on respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EEA, SARS-CoV-2 variant classification, measles, mpox, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, West Nile virus, and MERS-CoV.
Measles is an acute illness caused by morbillivirus. The disease is transmitted via airborne respiratory droplets, or by direct contact with nasal and throat secretions of infected individuals.
This Reporting Protocol describes data collection for influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses (such as RSV or new viruses of public health concern) in the EU/EEA and wider WHO European Region. Data collection is integrated for most datasets in line with the operational considerations for respiratory virus surveillance in Europe.