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.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 28 April - 4 May 2024 and includes updates on cholera, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, an overview of respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EEA, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in cattle and a related human case, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and Lassa fever.
ECDC’s annual surveillance reports provide a wealth of epidemiological data to support decision-making at the national level. They are mainly intended for public health professionals and policymakers involved in disease prevention and control programmes.
The food-borne infections listeriosis and shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli are increasing in the EU/EEA and were in 2022 at levels higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 2022, 29 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries reported 8 565 confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection.
Arenaviruses are a type of small virus commonly found in rodents. When a person becomes infected with an arenavirus, symptoms usually begin within 10 days.
For 2021, 26 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries reported data on Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and only one country reported any cases.
The EVD-LabNet is strengthening capacity for early detection and surveillance of (re)emerging viral diseases in the EU/EEA countries and EU Candidate Countries.
This report provides updated baseline data for monitoring future changes in the distribution of autochthonous Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and its associated vectors for Europe and its neighbouring areas.