This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 26 November - 2 December 2023 and includes updates on human infection with influenza A(H1N2)v, influenza A(H5N1), an overview of respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EEA, respiratory infections due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the EU/EEA, HIV/AIDS surveillance 2023 (2022 data), West Nile virus, SARS-CoV-2 variant classification, and poliomyelitis.
Rubella is a mild febrile rash illness caused by rubella virus. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets (the virus is present in throat secretions). It affects mainly, but not only, children and when pregnant women are infected, it may result in malformation of the foetus. Humans are the only reservoir of infection.
Despite good access to effective antibiotics, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) is still a major cause of disease and death in both developing and developed countries. Pneumococci are the main cause of bacterial respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia, middle ear infection, and sinusitis, in all age groups.