This issue of the Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 15-21 January 2023 and includes updates on COVID-19, diphtheriae, influenza, Mpox and Cholera.
As of week 48/2022, 24 737 detections had been reported. Of these detections, 93% were type A viruses, with A(H3N2) dominating (64%) over A(H1N1)pdm09 (36%), and 13% type B of which 321 were ascribed to a lineage, with all being B/Victoria.
ECDC monitors and reports on influenza activity in Europe on a weekly basis throughout the flu season, in collaboration with WHO Regional Office for Europe.
The 2021−2022 influenza season in the EU/EEA marked the return of influenza virus activity after a low-level circulation following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the end of October 2022 and as of week 47, several EU/EEA countries have indicated an increase in paediatric hospitalisations due to RSV infections causing bronchiolitis, amidst concurrent circulation of other respiratory pathogens, such as the influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
In recent weeks, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulation in the EU/EEA has intensified, with increasing transmission rates in all population groups and an earlier-than-usual start of the season. Several EU/EEA countries are experiencing high RSV circulation and the number of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) due to RSV is increasing. At this time of the year RSV infections are not unusual, however this year there is more RSV activity and it began earlier than in pre-COVID-19 seasons.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 4 – 10 December 2022 and includes updates on COVID-19, Ebola virus, respiratory syncytial virus, streptococcal infection, diphtheria, seasonal influenza, mpox (monkeypox), hepatitis, MERS-CoV, meningitis, and mass gathering monitoring at the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar.