European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

𝟱𝟵 𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀: 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗜𝗩, 𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀, 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝘀. Our latest report shows that Europe is not on track to meet many of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3.3) targets for HIV, tuberculosis (TB), viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 in some areas, 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻: ➡️ hepatitis B and C account for 90% of the more than 59 000 annual deaths linked to these diseases in the EU/EEA, with no sign of a declining trend, ➡️ TB treatment success remains at 64%, well below the 90% target, ➡️ syphilis diagnoses have doubled and gonorrhoea rates have more than tripled over the last decade, ➡️ congenital syphilis cases increased by almost 80% between 2023 and 2024. The report also highlights major data gaps, particularly for STIs and hepatitis, making it difficult to monitor progress in testing and treatment. “𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘐𝘝, 𝘵𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘴, 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮” - says Bruno Christian Ciancio, Head of Unit, Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases at ECDC. 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮. ------ 📊 Explore the findings in our: - Evidence brief: https://bit.ly/4wh0Xao - News item: https://bit.ly/4f8Am9n - Full report: https://bit.ly/4tYdC0E #PublicHealth #SDG3 #HIV #Tuberculosis #Hepatitis #STIs #ECDC #SDGs Charlotte Deogan

#JustPublished! Cruise ship hantavirus outbreak: ECDC response activated. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has deployed an expert from the EU Health Task Force to the cruise ship affected by the Andes hantavirus outbreak, as part of a joint effort to investigate the outbreak and coordinate the public health response together with relevant Member States. ----- The virus has been identified as Andes hantavirus, the only hantavirus which can be transmitted person-to-person, typically requiring close and prolonged contact. Measures are already in place on board to reduce the likelihood of infection among passengers and crew. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝗖𝗗𝗖 We have also published a Threat Assessment Brief on the risk to Europe, including recommendations for passengers and crew onboard the cruise ship and advice for the handling of passengers upon arrival at the receiving point of entry in the EU. Considering the limited epidemiological information currently available, the long incubation period of the virus, and the potential for person-to-person transmission of Andes hantavirus, precautionary measures, including the medical evacuation of symptomatic passengers, crew and close contacts , should be considered. 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 - 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗟𝗢𝗪 Based on the current evidence, the risk to the general population in Europe remains very low, and widespread transmission is not expected. Any transmission is likely to remain limited due to the nature of contact required and the infection prevention and control measures in place onboard and during disembarkation , and further follow-up. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 Significant uncertainties remain, and investigations are ongoing to determine where and how individuals contracted the virus, and the extent of exposure among passengers and crew. ECDC is working in coordination with relevant national authorities in Spain, the Netherlands, other EU/EEA countries, the United Kingdom, and World Health Organization to assess the available information and support the public health response. ECDC is also collaborating with the EU reference laboratory for public health (EURL) on emerging, rodent-borne and zoonotic viral pathogens to strengthen diagnostic capacity. ----- More information in our press release: https://bit.ly/3QQNqX3 Full text of the Threat Assessment Brief: https://bit.ly/4f369IP #Hantavirus #HantavirusAndes #PublicHealth #Response #EUHealthTaskForce

Today, we are releasing 'episomer' - an R-based, customisable tool designed to support epidemic intelligence activities through the monitoring of social media data. #Episomer builds on the objectives and core functionalities of ECDC’s retired #epitweetr tool and has been adapted to respond to changes in social media data accessibility. It collects posts from Bluesky via its public API and has been designed to be extendable to other social media platforms, ensuring flexibility as the data landscape evolves. 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 The tool allows automated monitoring of social media content based on time, place and topic, supporting epidemic intelligence activities and research, particularly in the field of infectious disease surveillance, while remaining adaptable to other hazards. “Social media monitoring remains a valuable source of information for epidemic intelligence. Episomer ensures we can continue to leverage this capacity by building on ECDC’s established methods to monitor social media data sources, supporting early warning and situational awareness for public health" - says Vicky Lefevre - Head of Surveillance, Preparedness and Response at European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁? Episomer is freely available as an open-source R package under the European Union Public Licence (EUPL). Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4wdDebi and access the tool here: https://bit.ly/EPISOMER #EpidemicIntelligence #PublicHealth #DigitalEpidemiology #EarlyWarning #OpenSource #RStats #SocialMedia #AI Laura ESPINOSA

ECDC’s proposal for EU Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidance, published today on World Hand Hygiene day (5/5), underscores the need for strong, sustainable IPC programmes rooted in risk-based approaches, continuous improvement, and robust governance—supported by investment in workforce capacity, monitoring, and multidisciplinary collaboration, including patient involvement and behavioural insights. Please help to share this knowledge resource https://lnkd.in/e4jdhSA2 Thanks and congratulations to dedicated OHD/ARHAI scientific experts and other staff at ECDC contributing to this great achievement!

This week, our experts are in Denmark to carry out a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA), working closely with Danish authorities and partners across the health system.   We value the openness and strong engagement from our Danish colleagues, and we look forward to the discussions and shared learning that help strengthen preparedness across Europe.   𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗣𝗔 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) conducts Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessments (PHEPAs) in all EU/EEA countries every 3 years to assess the prevention, preparedness and response capacities for dealing with health threats and crises.   #Preparedness #PHEPA #PublicHealth

On World Hand Hygiene Day, ECDC launches #hyFive - a new digital hand hygiene monitoring tool for healthcare facilities. 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽 Installed at the hospital, public health institute, or ministry. 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Compliance rates easily shown across units and departments. 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 Real-time compliance data at national level. Find out more about the app: www.ecdc.europa.eu/hyfive Visit the World Hand Hygiene Day dedicated page here: https://lnkd.in/dG4scX4h #WorldHandHygieneDay #PublicHealth #IPC #Prevention #CleanHandsSaveLives

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆: 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀. Clean hands are one of the simplest - and most effective - ways to prevent infections. This #WorldHandHygieneDay, we are strengthening infection prevention with: ➡️ new infection prevention & control (IPC) guidance for healthcare systems, ➡️ #hyFive, a tool for real-time hand hygiene monitoring. Combining evidence-based guidance with practical tools helps healthcare systems identify gaps, improve compliance, and strengthen accountability - where it matters most. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dG4scX4h #HandHygiene #CleanHandsSaveLives #Prevention #PublicHealth #WHHD2026

Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship under investigation: risk for Europeans very low says European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) https://lnkd.in/dJ6kAGhZ