Communicable disease threats report, 12-18 April 2015, week 16
The ECDC communicable disease threats report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control. Summarising information gathered by ECDC through its epidemic intelligence activities regarding communicable disease threats of concern to the European Union, it also provides updates on the global situation and changes in the epidemiology of communicable diseases with potential to affect Europe, including diseases that are the focus of eradication efforts.
Executive summary
This issue covers the period 12 to 18 April 2015, and includes updates on monitoring the 2014–15 influenza season, the Ebola virus disease in West Africa and influenza A(H7N9).
Seasonal influenza 2014–2015
Influenza activity is decreasing in most reporting countries.
The proportion of influenza-virus positive specimens from sentinel sources decreased from 36% in week 14 to 28% in week 15.
ECDC and WHO produce the Flu News Europe bulletin weekly.
Ebola virus disease in West Africa
The downward trend continues in the three affected countries.
Thirty-seven new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease were reported from WHO in the week from 6 April to 12 April (28 in Guinea and nine in Sierra Leone). Liberia reported no new confirmed cases. Although surveillance is improving in Guinea, unknown chains of transmission remain a source of new infections. The downward trend in Sierra Leone continues although challenges remain.
ECDC published an updated rapid risk assessment on 15 April 2015.
Influenza A(H7N9) – China
Additional 20 cases reported from China.
Since the last update on 11 March 2015, WHO reported 20 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, including 4 deaths, in China. Cases were reported from five provinces: Anhui (3), Fujian (2), Guangdong (4), Shandong (1), and Zhejiang (10).
ECDC published an updated rapid risk assessment on 3 February 2015.
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