This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 3-9 December 2023 and includes updates on respiratory virus epidemiology in the EU/EEA, SARS-CoV-2 variant classification, measles, mpox, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, West Nile virus, and MERS-CoV.
Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium with human carriers as the only reservoir. It is carried in the nose, where it can remain for long periods without producing symptoms.
Despite good access to effective antibiotics, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) is still a major cause of disease and death in both developing and developed countries. Pneumococci are the main cause of bacterial respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia, middle ear infection, and sinusitis, in all age groups.