The programme was set up in 2006 and covers all aspects of Tuberculosis (TB), a disease that remains an important threat to human health world wide and in Europe. Despite the fact that the situation concerning TB in the European Union (EU) has dramatically improved over the past decades, TB continues to be a threat to the health of European citizens. It is considered a re-emerging disease of European importance.

The programme covers the following diseases: botulism, brucellosis, campylobacteriosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakobs disease and other TSE, cryptosporidiosis, echinococcosis, giardiasis, hepatitis A, hepatitis E, infection with EHEC, listeriosis, norovirus infection, salmonellosis, shigellosis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis and yersiniosis.

The programme covers the following diseases: chlamydia infections, gonococcal infections, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV-infection and syphilis.

The programme covers antimicrobial resistance issues in the community and in hospitals, as well as all infections associated with healthcare. It includes activities such as surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, surveillance of antimicrobial consumption, surveillance of various types of healthcare-associated infections, provision of scientific advice on the prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, communication and training.

The Programme covers general issues concerning vaccination and the following diseases: diphtheria, infections with Haemophilus influenzae type B, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, pertussis, pneumococcal infections, poliomyelitis, rabies, rotavirus infection, rubella, tetanus, human papilloma virus (HPV) infections, varicella

The programme on emerging and vector-borne diseases (EVD) focuses on a wide range of pathogens and diseases, notably vector-borne and travel-related diseases. Specific diseases covered include: Chikungunya fever, dengue virus infections, hanta virus infections, legionellosis, Lyme disease (borreliosis), malaria, plague, Q-fever, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), smallpox, tick-borne encephalitis, tularaemia, viral haemorrhagic fevers, West Nile fever and yellow fever.

The programme covers all aspects of influenza; seasonal influenza, pandemic influenza, and avian influenza, influenza vaccination, antivirals and antiviral resistance.