Rubella is a mild febrile rash illness caused by rubella virus. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets (the virus is present in throat secretions). It affects mainly, but not only, children and when pregnant women are infected, it may result in malformation of the foetus. Humans are the only reservoir of infection.
Since the beginning of the 2023 transmission season and as of 29 November 2023, EU/EEA countries have reported 707 human cases, 147 outbreaks among equids and 246 outbreaks among birds.
Every year World AIDS Day is marked on the 1st of December. Beginning in 1988 as the first-ever international day for global health, it is now in its 35th year.
The eighth ‘Exchange of Experts’ programme visit for public health experts from the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partner countries took place on 28 and 29 November 2023 at the Public Health Agency of Sweden.