This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 24-30 November 2019 and includes updates on Ebola virus disease, Lassa fever, influenza, cholera, polio and West Nile virus.
On 20 and 24 November 2019, respectively, the Dutch public health authorities confirmed two imported cases of Lassa fever from Sierra Leone. Both were Dutch healthcare workers who worked in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone.
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.
Shigellosis is a relatively uncommon disease in the EU/EEA, but remains of concern in some countries and for some population groups. In 2016, 29 EU/EEA countries reported 5 631 confirmed shigellosis cases.