From 18 to 25 November 2016, almost 500 organisations all across Europe hosted activities to increase awareness of the benefits of HIV and hepatitis testing.
Although clinical trials and other studies have demonstrated the efficacy and effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV and existing guidelines have recommended making PrEP available within combination HIV prevention packages, there is not yet clear consensus in Europe with regard to whether and how to implement PrEP.
This joint meeting of the networks on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV offered a platform for expert discussion among nominated ECDC contact points for STI and HIV on 8-9 March. On 10-11 March 2016, the European network for HIV/AIDS Surveillance brought together the nominated HIV/AIDS surveillance contact and focal points of the 53 countries of the WHO European Region.
This was the first regional meeting on West Nile fever real time surveillance and good practices on vector-borne diseases. The overall objective was to support the exchange of experience between EU and non-EU neighbouring countries on the surveillance of West Nile fever and the lessons learnt since 2011.
On the third meeting of the Hepatitis B and C Network national focal points and experts discussed the enhanced surveillance programme for hepatitis B and C across Europe and explored ways of improving it.
A workshop for stakeholders who are involved in HIV prevention work with men who have sex with men (MSM) in the EU/EEA countries to discuss the role of mobile apps in HIV prevention.