ECDC promotes the performance of external quality assessment (EQA) schemes, in which laboratories are sent simulated clinical specimens or bacterial isolates for testing by routine or reference laboratory methods. EQA schemes, or laboratory proficiency testing, provide information about the accuracy of different characterisation and typing methods as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and the sensitivity of the methods in place to detect a certain pathogen or novel resistance patterns.
Most reported malaria cases in EU were travel related. Five cases were reported as locally acquired: two in France and three in Spain. The latest data on reported cases in EU is available in the 2016 Annual epidemiological report.