The coordination of European FWD outbreaks can be difficult to manage. In order to help Member State countries with the task, ECDC is launching an online toolkit which provides investigators with a series of tools for the investigation of an outbreak that involves at least two EU Member States.
4CMenB has the potential to reduce serogroup B meningococcal disease substantially. Despite its potential, the vaccine may have some limitations, and it remains to be seen if booster doses will be required to sustain protection.
Since November 2011, a newly recognised virus, provisionally named ‘Schmallenberg’ virus, has been reported in cattle, sheep and goats in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and France. Additionally, one bison has been confirmed positive for Schmallenberg virus in Germany.
Results of this study demonstrated that the RIX4414 vaccine was well tolerated and immunogenic in pre-term European infants: more than 75% of infants had seroconverted 30-83 days after dose 2.
Despite a reduction in pertussis among younger children and infants, rates of pertussis-related sickness and death remain high compared with rates for other vaccine-preventable diseases in England and Wales.