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Editorial
Influenza season potentially more severe this year in Europe
ECDC produced this month a risk assessment on this year’s seasonal influenza epidemic. Its key conclusion is
that the epidemic in Europe this winter could be more severe and exert bigger pressure on health care
systems than in the last few winters. The influenza season usually starts in January, and each year around
10% of Europeans are infected. What is difficult to predict in advance, however, is exactly which strain - or
strains - of the influenza virus will be circulating during the epidemic. From data gathered so far for the
season, the pre-dominant virus this winter is A(H3N2), however, the circulating virus has drifted from
the strain used in the seasonal influenza vaccine reducing the vaccine’s effectiveness. The influenza A(H3N2) strains generally
cause more severe illness, especially among older people and those in medical risk groups. It is therefore paramount that
physicians across Europe consider treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis with antivirals especially for elderly patients and
those in medical risk groups (e.g. immune compromised patients, patients with asthma or heart disease).
I would also like to highlight the first Joint Interagency Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance Analysis (JIACRA)
report. This report on antimicrobial resistance that ECDC published together with the European Food Safety Authority and the
European Medicines Agency, combines data from five European surveillance networks. It provides an integrated analysis of
the consumption of antibiotics and the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from humans and food-producing
animals, bringing together data and analysis from all three Agencies. The joint report will ultimately allow policy makers to decide
on the best way to tackle antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals.
Marc Sprenger, Director of ECDC
RISK ASSESSMENTS
Risk assessment: Seasonal influenza 2014-2015 in the EU/EEA countries
Date of publication: 28 January 2015
The EU/EAA influenza season started in week 1/2015, with 26% of sentinel specimens positive for influenza.
Subtype A(H3N2) viruses are dominant in almost all reporting European countries. As a consequence of the
mismatch between vaccine and circulating strains, a reduced vaccine effectiveness is expected, as suggested by
early effectiveness estimates (< 25%) in the USA, where similar circulating drift variants were detected.
Available online on the ECDC website
Rapid Risk Assessment: Severe respiratory disease associated with Middle East
respiratory syndrome coronavirus, 13th update
Date of publication: 21 January 2015
The thirteenth updated rapid risk assessment on MERS-CoV shows a decrease in cases after the surge in October
2014, with the majority of MERS-CoV cases still reported from the Arabian Peninsula, mainly from Saudi Arabia.
Available online on the ECDC website
TECHNICAL REPORTS
Seasonal influenza vaccination in Europe - Vaccination recommendations and
coverage rates, 2012-13
Date of publication: 21 January 2015
This report provides an update on seasonal influenza immunisation policies and vaccination coverage rates in
EU/EEA Member States for the 2012-13 influenza season.
Available online on the ECDC website
Infection prevention and control measures for Ebola virus disease. Management of
healthcare workers returning from Ebola-affected areas
Date of publication: 22 January 2015
This document outlines current monitoring processes for returning healthcare workers and provides different
options for reducing the risk of transmission of EVD from infected healthcare workers returning to the EU/EEA.
Available online on the ECDC website
JOINT REPORTS
ECDC/EFSA/EMA first joint report on the integrated analysis of the consumption of
antimicrobial agents and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from
humans and food-producing animals
Date of publication: 30 January 2015
The ECDC, the EFSA and the EMA have for the first time jointly explored associations between consumption of
antimicrobials in humans and food-producing animals, and antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from humans and
food-producing animals, using 2011 and 2012 data currently available from their relevant five EU monitoring
networks. Combined data on antimicrobial consumption and corresponding resistance in animals and humans for
EU Member States and reporting countries were analysed using logistic regression models for selected
combinations of bacteria and antimicrobials.
Available online on the ECDC website
European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents
and Food-borne Outbreaks in 2013
Date of publication: 28 January 2015
The report presents the results of the zoonoses monitoring activities carried out in 2013 in 32 European countries:
28 Member States and four non-Member States European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) summarised all
submitted data on the occurrence of zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks.
Available online on the ECDC website
SURVEILLANCE REPORTS
Annual epidemiological report 2014 - Respiratory tract infections - Tuberculosis
Date of publication: 27 January 2015
The Annual Epidemiological Report 2014 gives an overview of the epidemiology of communicable diseases of public
health significance in Europe, drawn from surveillance information on the 52 communicable diseases and health
issues for which surveillance is mandatory in the European Union and European Economic Area countries.
In order to facilitate more timely publication, this year’s edition of the Annual Epidemiological Report is being first
published a disease group at a time and will later be compiled into one comprehensive report. This report presents
the epidemiological situation for respiratory tract infections - tuberculosis as of 2012 and describes the statistical
and epidemiological methods used.
Available online on the ECDC website
Influenza virus characterisation, Summary Europe, December 2014
Date of publication: 22 January 2015
The Community Network of Reference Laboratories (CNRL) for Human Influenza in Europe presents a summary of
the latest results of genetic and antigenic characterisation of influenza viruses received at the WHO Collaborating
Centre in London from ECDC-affiliated countries.
Available online on the ECDC website
ECDC communicable disease threats report
Date of publication: every Friday
The ECDC communicable disease threats report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health
professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control. Summarising information gathered by
ECDC through its epidemic intelligence activities regarding communicable disease threats of concern to the
European Union, it also provides updates on the global situation and changes in the epidemiology of communicable
diseases with potential to affect Europe, including diseases that are the focus of eradication efforts.
Available online on the ECDC website
SCIENTIFIC PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Publications by ECDC staff in scientific journals
Updated: October 2014
The full list of all scientific peer-reviewed publications produced by ECDC staff on behalf of the Centre for the
period January 2005 - June 2014 is available on the ECDC website. This list is updated every six months.
Available online on the ECDC website