Influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV activity in EU/EEA Member States continue to decrease or remain stable at low levels. Cases, including severe infections, can still occur and it therefore remains essential to continue testing patients presenting with severe acute respiratory symptoms in order to guide treatment and inform epidemiological assessments.
European Immunization Week (EIW) is marked across Europe every year in the final week of April. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation for the general health and well-being of the European and wider population.
In connection with the European Immunization Week, ECDC releases data indicating an increase in cases of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis, after decreased levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, 1 149 confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), including 110 deaths, were reported in 30 European Union/European Economic Area Member States.
HelicsWin.Net (also referred to as HWN) is a software application developed for the manual entry of data of the ECDC HAI-Net surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium with human carriers as the only reservoir. It is carried in the nose, where it can remain for long periods without producing symptoms.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is an obligate human pathogen and an important cause of invasive bacterial infections in both children and adults, with the highest incidence among young children.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 6 - 12 August 2023 and includes updates on measles, COVID-19, swine flu, mpox, diphtheria, West Nile virus, avian influenza, dengue, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and invasive meningococcal disease.