This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 31 July-6 August and includes updates on West Nile virus infection, monkeypox, COVID-19, cholera, diphteria, anthrax, Vibrio growth, Marburg virus disease, mass gatherings at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games, MERS-CoV, and Poliovirus.
For 2018, 63 cases of diphtheria were reported to ECDC; 62 due to toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae or C. ulcerans and one case with an unknown pathogen. The highest proportion of C. ulcerans cases was among adults 65 years and over, whereas C. diphtheriae cases were more common in younger age groups. Among the C. diphtheriae cases, 60% were reported as imported. High vaccination coverage is crucial to prevent diphtheria.
ECDC coordinates the enhanced surveillance for hepatitis A, B and C to help countries define epidemiological trends or transmission patterns among newly diagnosed cases.
World Hepatitis Day on 28 July provides an opportunity each year to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis.