European Immunization Week (EIW) is marked across Europe every year in the final week of April. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation for the general health and well-being of the European and wider population.
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.
In 2022, 1 149 confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), including 110 deaths, were reported in 30 European Union/European Economic Area Member States.
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.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 6 - 12 August 2023 and includes updates on measles, COVID-19, swine flu, mpox, diphtheria, West Nile virus, avian influenza, dengue, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and invasive meningococcal disease.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 23-29 July 2023 and includes updates on cholera, MERS-CoV, Chikungunya, dengue, COVID-19, West Nile virus, avian influenza, echovirus, botulism, and bacterial meningitis.
This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 21-27 May 2023 and includes updates on COVID-19, influenza, Marburg virus disease, poliomyelitis, extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and suspected fungal meningitis.