For 2018, 63 cases of diphtheria were reported to ECDC; 62 due to toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae or C. ulcerans and one case with an unknown pathogen. The highest proportion of C. ulcerans cases was among adults 65 years and over, whereas C. diphtheriae cases were more common in younger age groups. Among the C. diphtheriae cases, 60% were reported as imported. High vaccination coverage is crucial to prevent diphtheria.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 1-7 December 2019 and includes updates on Ebola virus disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, West Nile virus, monkeypox, influenza and diphtheria.
The ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) is a weekly bulletin for epidemiologists and health professionals on active public health threats. This issue covers the period from 14-24 August 2019 and includes updates on Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, monitoring environmental sustainability of Vibrio growth in the Baltic Sea, West Nile virus infection, haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Croatia and Slovenia, the mass gathering of the Hajj in Saudi Arabia and Listeriosis in Spain. (Erratum (26 August 2019): On pages 2 and 5 (West Nile virus infection), the figure of eight deaths in Greece (4), Cyprus (1) and Serbia (1) has been amended to four deaths in Greece (2), Cyprus (1) and Serbia (1)
In 2017, 21 countries reported 4 239 cases of hantavirus infection (0.8 cases per 100 000 population). Two countries, Finland and Germany, accounted for 70.1% of all reported cases. In the absence of a licensed vaccine, prevention mainly relies on rodent control, avoidance of contact and properly cleaning and disinfecting areas contaminated by rodent excreta (urine, saliva or droppings).