This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 31 December 2023-6 January 2024 and includes updates on Avian influenza A(H5N6 and H9N2), SARS-CoV-2 variant classification, Western Equine Encephalitis, and an overview of respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EEA.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 17-23 December 2023 and includes updates on cholera, SARS-CoV-2 variant classification, avian influenza in fur farms, hepatitis A, pertussis, a cluster of extensively drug-resistant Shigella Sonnei among men who have sex with men, and an overview of respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EE.
Fleas are ectoparasitic blood-sucking insects with the ability to jump, which commonly infest wild and domestic animals (mainly dogs and cats) but also humans.
Sindbis virus is widely and continuously found in insects (the main vectors are Culex and Culiseta mosquitoes) and vertebrates in Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania. ECDC factsheet for health professionals
Tularaemia is a zoonosis (infection that could transmit from animals to humans), A range of wild and domestic animals such as hares or rodents may function as the reservoir for tularaemia, as well as ticks.
ECDC initiated a survey of EU/EEA countries to evaluate preparedness planning and risk mitigation initiatives implemented at the country level for people exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1).
This protocol sets out measures for the follow-up and management of individuals exposed to infected animals and human cases of avian influenza, and for the public health management of possible and confirmed human cases.
To assess the level of preparedness of EU/EEA Member States to respond to zoonotic avian flu outbreaks, ECDC has carried out two surveys - one assessing the laboratory capacity for molecular diagnosis and characterisation of zoonotic influenza viruses, and the other focusing on measures applied to protect exposed people during outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza.