Seasonal influenza

Microbiology and laboratory reports; External quality assessments, Influenza virus characterisations.

E-learning course on how to increase influenza vaccination uptake. This e-learning course has been developed since seasonal influenza vaccination of HCWs is recommended in Europe but vaccination uptake remains low in most countries.

Influenza pandemic preparedness

Facts

Partnerships and networks

ECDC publications and peer-reviewed articles

ECDC publications and peer-reviewed articles on influenza

Featured content

Influenza in Europe, summary of the season 2017–18

The influenza 2017/18 surveillance season started in week 40/2017 & ended in week 20/2018. Here you find an overview of the ECDC main outputs during the season 2017/18.

Joint ECDC-WHO/Europe weekly influenza update

In collaboration with WHO Regional Office for Europe, ECDC monitors and reports on influenza activity in Europe on a weekly basis throughout the flu season in the report Flu News Europe.

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Weekly influenza infographics

Graphic visual representations of the latest influenza surveillance data: virus circulation, intensity and trends. The infographics are published weekly during the peak season.

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Influenza Virus Characterisations Reports, summary Europe

The ECDC Influenza Virus Characterisations Reports are published periodically. The report provides an overview of the technical details of the circulating influenza viruses, such as antigenic and genetic properties, with a reference to the current vaccine strains. It also summaries the developments of the viruses since the last report, as well as the main developments for the ongoing season. The report is of special interest for influenza virologists and epidemiologists interested in the in-depth characterisation of influenza viruses.

30% of the burden of communicable diseases in Europe is due to influenza

New study in Eurosurveillance, published April 2018, on the impact of infectious diseases on population in the European Union and European Economic Area countries.

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Expert opinion on neuraminidase inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of influenza - review of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses

14 Aug 2017 - This ECDC expert opinion confirms earlier assessments by ECDC and national authorities that there is no significant new evidence to support any changes to the approved indications and recommended use of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) in EU/EEA Member States.

Seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe – Vaccination recommendations and coverage rates for eight influenza seasons (2007–2008 to 2014–2015)

20 Jul 2017 - Vaccination recommendations and coverage rates in the EU Member States for eight influenza seasons: 2007–2008 to 2014–2015.

How close are countries of the WHO European Region to achieving the goal of vaccinating 75% of key risk groups against influenza?

How close are countries of the WHO European Region to achieving the goal of vaccinating 75% of key risk groups against influenza? Results from national surveys on seasonal influenza vaccination programmes, 2008/2009 to 2014/2015. Published in the Science, 36 (4), 25 Jan 2018.

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Interim 2017/18 influenza seasonal vaccine effectiveness: combined results from five European studies

Between September 2017 and February 2018, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B viruses (mainly B/Yamagata, not included in 2017/18 trivalent vaccines) co-circulated in Europe. Interim results from five European studies indicate that, in all age groups, 2017/18 influenza vaccine effectiveness was 25 to 52% against any influenza, 55 to 68% against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, −42 to 7% against influenza A(H3N2) and 36 to 54% against influenza B.

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ECDC disease programmes and networks

European Influenza Surveillance Network (EISN)

The network combines epidemiological and virological surveillance of influenza.

European Reference Laboratory Network for Human Influenza (ERLI-Net)

The ERLI-Net sub-network of reference laboratories of the European Influenza Surveillance Network carries out virological surveillance of human influenza in the EU/EEA through the EISN timely reporting mechanism and strengthening laboratory capacity for influenza virus detection, antiviral susceptibility testing and typing.

Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses Programme

The Programme aims to support European bodies and Member States in the enactment of European Council Recommendations and Communications on seasonal influenza immunisation and pandemic preparedness.

Other types of respiratory tract infections

2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic

The 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic was declared over in August 2010 by the World Health Organization. Europe has now entered a new inter-pandemic phase of seasonal influenza.

Enteroviruses

Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild. However if they infect the central nervous system, they can cause serious illness. The two most common ones are echovirus and coxsackievirus, but there are several others.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a new beta virus strain of an animal coronavirus that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in September 2012. This novel coronavirus differs from the previously identified coronaviruses such as the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which caused the 2003 SARS outbreaks.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a life-threatening respiratory disease caused by a recently identified coronavirus; the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). This is believed to be an animal virus that recently crossed the species barrier to infect humans.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease that can be fatal. It most commonly affects the lungs.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

An agency of the European Union

Seasonal influenza

Influenza virus characterisation, Summary Europe, June 2018

Influenza virus characterisation, Summary Europe, May 2018

Influenza virus characterisation, Summary Europe, March 2018

Communicable disease threats report, 20-26 May 2018, week 21

Influenza virus characterisation, Summary Europe, June 2018

Influenza virus characterisation, Summary Europe, May 2018

Influenza virus characterisation, Summary Europe, March 2018

Communicable disease threats report, 20-26 May 2018, week 21

Influenza ranked highest in burden of disease measured in DALYs

WHO recommendations for influenza virus vaccine composition for the 2018-2019 Northern hemisphere season

Low uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe may jeopardise capacity to protect people in next pandemic

Influenza surveillance for the 2017-2018 season is starting

6th Joint WHO/Europe–ECDC Annual European Influenza Surveillance Meeting

ECDC Expert meeting on non-pharmaceutical countermeasures for Pandemic flu

Acute respiratory pandemics: how to plan for and manage

E-learning course on how to increase influenza vaccination uptake

Weekly influenza update, week 20, May 2018

Weekly influenza update, week 19, May 2018

Weekly influenza update, week 18, April/May 2018

Weekly influenza update, week 17, April 2018

Microbiology

Training

ECDC publications and peer-reviewed articles

Featured content

Influenza in Europe, summary of the season 2017–18

Joint ECDC-WHO/Europe weekly influenza update

Weekly influenza infographics

Influenza Virus Characterisations Reports, summary Europe

30% of the burden of communicable diseases in Europe is due to influenza

Expert opinion on neuraminidase inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of influenza - review of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe – Vaccination recommendations and coverage rates for eight influenza seasons (2007–2008 to 2014–2015)

How close are countries of the WHO European Region to achieving the goal of vaccinating 75% of key risk groups against influenza?

Interim 2017/18 influenza seasonal vaccine effectiveness: combined results from five European studies

ECDC disease programmes and networks

European Influenza Surveillance Network (EISN)

European Reference Laboratory Network for Human Influenza (ERLI-Net)

Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses Programme

Other types of respiratory tract infections

2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic

Enteroviruses

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Tuberculosis

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