Diphtheria is spread through droplets from coughing or sneezing. Most often the disease causes a sore throat and low grade fever in the first few days of the illness.
The overall objective is to support EU Member States in updating their polio preparedness planning. The specific aims of the case study were to: critically review implemented actions and identify gaps in order to propose approaches for strengthening the national polio plans; identify health system elements that are important in polio preparedness planning; and provide examples of collaborative efforts between these sectors in planning measures for outbreak response to polio as a cross-border health threat.
ECDC’s annual epidemiological 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.
Poliomyelitis, also known as polio or infantile paralysis, is a vaccine-preventable systemic viral infection affecting the motor neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). Historically, it has been a major cause of mortality, acute paralysis and lifelong disabilities but large scale immunisation programmes have eliminated polio from most areas of the world.