This edition of the Annual Report gives special attention to vaccine-preventable diseases and immunisation programmesin the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries. This edition was revised January and June 2010 and has authority over the print edition.
In the closed cabin environment of modern airplanes, passengers are frequently exposed to various infectious diseases. This report looks at 12 infectious diseases and, by systematically evaluating literature on on-board transmission, attempts to assess the risk of infection via air circulation in airplanes.
These guidelines are complemented by operational guidelines in relation to tuberculosis, new emerging airborne diseases (e.g. SARS) and meningococcal infections.
Substandard education, low income, or other socio-economic factors result in the inequitable distribution of communicable diseases. Disadvantaged groups are especially vulnerable and risk greater exposure to disease because of environmental or behavioural risk factors. A workshop was convened to discuss new ideas to ameliorate the discrepancies between these groups.