Sixty cases of diphtheria due to toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae (n=29) or C. ulcerans (n=31), and one case with unknown pathogen were reported to ECDC in 2021.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 10-16 December 2023 and includes updates on measles, chikungunya, dengue, SARS-CoV-2, diphtheria, West Nile virus, respiratory virus epidemiology and influenza.
Since the beginning of the 2023 transmission season, and as of 13th December 2023, 152 outbreaks among equids and 247 outbreaks among birds have been reported by EU/EEA countries. Outbreaks among equids have been reported by France (44), Spain (37), Hungary (26), Italy (25), Germany (14), Portugal (5) and Austria (1). Outbreaks among birds have been reported by Italy (196), Germany (19), Spain (19), Bulgaria (6), Hungary (3), France (2), Austria (1) and Greece (1).
Since the beginning of the 2023 transmission season and as of 13th December 2023, EU/EEA countries have reported 707 human cases of WNV infection in Italy (336), Greece (162, of which 1 with unknown place of infection), Romania (103), France (43), Hungary (29), Spain (17), Germany (6), Croatia (6) and Cyprus (5). EU/EEA countries have reported 67 deaths in Italy (29), Greece (23), Romania (12) and Spain (3). EU-neighbouring countries have reported 93 human cases of WNV infection in Serbia (91) and North Macedonia (2) and 2 deaths in Serbia (2).
Since the beginning of the 2023 transmission season and as of 13 December 2023, EU/EEA countries have reported 707 human cases of WNV infection, 152 outbreaks among equids and 247 outbreaks among birds.
Since the beginning of the 2023 transmission season and as of 13th December 2023, EU/EEA countries have reported 707 human cases of WNV infection in Italy (336), Greece (162, of which 1 with unknown place of infection), Romania (103), France (43), Hungary (29), Spain (17), Germany (6), Croatia (6) and Cyprus (5).
ECDC initiated a survey of EU/EEA countries to evaluate preparedness planning and risk mitigation initiatives implemented at the country level for people exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1).
This protocol sets out measures for the follow-up and management of individuals exposed to infected animals and human cases of avian influenza, and for the public health management of possible and confirmed human cases.
To assess the level of preparedness of EU/EEA Member States to respond to zoonotic avian flu outbreaks, ECDC has carried out two surveys - one assessing the laboratory capacity for molecular diagnosis and characterisation of zoonotic influenza viruses, and the other focusing on measures applied to protect exposed people during outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The aim of this survey was to review the expertise, capabilities and capacities for detection and characterisation of avian and other zoonotic influenza viruses in national influenza reference laboratories in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), in members of the European Reference Laboratories for influenza (ERLINet), and in EU Enlargement policy countries.