Influenza is a disease of public health importance due to the substantial seasonal morbidity and mortality and the high pandemic potential of its aetiologic agents, influenza viruses.
The European Respiratory Diseases Forecasting Hub (RespiCast) is open for weekly submission of several respiratory disease indicators such as influenza-like-illness, acute respiratory infection and COVID-19.
This report contains genetic and antigenic characterization data generated at the Worldwide Influenza Centre for viruses with collection dates after 31 January 2023 until 31 August 2023.
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.
Several viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens are expected to continue co-circulating at variable levels during the coming months, and contribute to increased morbidity and mortality during this period. This is typical of every winter season.
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.