This report presents the results of the ECDC European Reference Laboratory Network for Pertussis (ERLNPert-Net) external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for Bordetella pertussis PCR, funded by ECDC on behalf of ERLNPert-Net and conducted from April to September 2020. The EQA was organised by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), based in Potter’s Bar, United Kingdom (UK).
For 2018, 63 cases of diphtheria were reported to ECDC; 62 due to toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae or C. ulcerans and one case with an unknown pathogen. The highest proportion of C. ulcerans cases was among adults 65 years and over, whereas C. diphtheriae cases were more common in younger age groups. Among the C. diphtheriae cases, 60% were reported as imported. High vaccination coverage is crucial to prevent diphtheria.