In connection with the European Immunization Week, ECDC releases data indicating an increase in cases of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis, after decreased levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rubella is a mild febrile rash illness caused by rubella virus. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets (the virus is present in throat secretions). It affects mainly, but not only, children and when pregnant women are infected, it may result in malformation of the foetus. Humans are the only reservoir of infection.
European Immunization Week (EIW) is marked across the European Region every April. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation for people’s health and well-being. ECDC supports the European Immunization Week campaign lead by WHO/Europe by providing scientific evidence on immunisation.
On 23 November WHO Europe published the results from the 5th annual meeting of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination (RVC).
During the course of European Immunisation Week (EIW), 24 – 30 April 2016, ECDC is putting the spotlight on its resources in support of measles and rubella elimination. These range from disease surveillance and epidemic intelligence to communication tools and guides on awareness raising about the importance of vaccination, as well as the vaccination scheduler tool.
European Immunization Week (EIW) is celebrated across the European Region every April. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of immunization for people’s health and well-being. Activities in 2016 focused on the progress and challenges in the Region’s concerted effort to eliminate measles and rubella.
3 969 cases of measles were reported by 30 EU/EEA countries from 1 January to 31 December 2015, according to ECDC’s latest measles and rubella monitoring report. One measles-related death was reported in a 19 month old child, and six cases were complicated by acute measles encephalitis.