Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It may also be transmitted mother-to-child (congenital syphilis).
HIV is a virus which attacks the immune system and causes a lifelong severe illness with a long incubation period. The end-stage of the infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), results from the destruction of the immune system.
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.
Following a request by the Estonian government, ECDC performed a follow-up country visit to Estonia covering HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from 11–13 October 2010.
A joint meeting organised by ECDC and the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) was held in Tallinn, Estonia on 29–30 March 2012 to share best practice experiences on monitoring, and responding to the risk of HIV among people who inject drugs.
This interim report summarises the progress made on implementing the policy priorities contained in a European Commission Communication entitled Combating HIV/AIDs in the European Union and neighbouring countries, 2009–2013.
Following a request from the European Commission in August 2010, ECDC assessed the epidemiological history of Human T-lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) across the world, possible risks of HTLV transmission through transplantation of human tissues and cells, and possible measures to prevent such transmission.