Communicable disease threats report 14-20 July 2013, week 29
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
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. This week’s report includes:
West Nile fever
The first human West Nile fever (WNF) case of the year was detected in the EU. Greece reported one probable case in the eastern part of the Attiki region. Attiki had the largest number of WNF cases in Greece in 2012. In neighbouring countries, Volgograd oblast in the Russian Federation recorded its first case of the year.
MERS-CoV
A further seven cases of MERS-CoV have been reported by WHO, five cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and two cases in Saudi Arabia. All the cases except one were either asymptomatic or mild and did not require hospitalisation. There were no new fatalities.
On 17 July 2013 the second meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) took place. It concluded unanimously that, with the information now available, the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern have not at present been met.
In addition, ECDC published a further update (sixth) to its Rapid Risk Assessment on MERS-CoV.
Meningococcal C clusters
Through retrospective investigation, Germany has identified two additional cases of invasive meningococcal disease in Berlin with the same strain as earlier reported cases. A cluster with a similar strain had already been identified in the Paris area, France and a single case in Belgium.
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