| Rapid risk and outbreak assessments |
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Zika virus disease epidemic Date of publication: 31 October 2016 ECDC has updated its risk assessment on the Zika virus epidemic in currently affected countries, in EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and Outermost Regions (OMRs) and in EU Member States within continental Europe. It offers a number of options for risk reduction that can be considered by Member State authorities.  Ninth update (25 October 2016) available online on the ECDC website |
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Joint Rapid Outbreak Assessment: Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 8, MLVA type 2-9-7-3-2 and 2-9-6-3-2 infections Date of publication: 27 October 2016 From 1 May 2016 to 12 October 2016, seven European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries have reported 112 confirmed cases and 148 probable cases of Salmonella Enteriditis. This document assesses the risk associated with this multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 8 associated with two MLVA types, initially confirmed and delineated by whole genome sequencing methods. Available online on the ECDC website |
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Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis – Multi-country cluster, Romania Date of publication: 24 October 2016 Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is defined as tuberculosis (TB) caused by a strain resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid, fluoroquinolone or any of the second-line injectable drugs. A cluster involving four cases of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis was detected in three students in Romania. An additional contact case was also diagnosed. Two of the cases are UK residents who attended university in Romania and were diagnosed in October 2015 and September 2016. Contact tracing has identified 87 contacts who are now at risk of developing XDR TB disease. Available online on the ECDC website |
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Outbreak of Rift Valley fever in Niger – Risk for the European Union Date of publication: 10 October 2016 Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute febrile disease affecting ruminants and humans caused by a virus of the genus Phlebovirus. The disease has been reported in regions of eastern and southern Africa, and in most of the sub-Saharan and West African countries, Egypt, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. During August and September 2016, 78 human cases including 26 deaths were reported in the district of Tchintabaraden (Tahoua Region) in Niger. However, the outbreak is currently affecting rural rather than touristic areas. Available online on the ECDC website |
| Scientific advice |
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Public consultation: Expert opinion on rotavirus vaccination in infancy Date of publication: 17 October 2016 The aim of the final expert opinion on rotavirus vaccination in infancy is to provide EU/EEA Member States with relevant scientific information and expert opinion to support the decision-making process on the possible introduction and monitoring of routine vaccination of infants against rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis. It highlights issues to be considered before and after introduction of rotavirus vaccines, and identifies knowledge gaps and areas in need of further research. In order to receive comments from the scientific community and stakeholders, ECDC is launching a public consultation, which will be open until 28 November 2016. Document and instructions to submit contributions available online on the ECDC website |
| Evidence brief |
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Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in Europe Date of publication: 18 October 2016 This ECDC evidence brief assesses data from a collaborative ECDC and Hornet Gay Social Network rapid survey of a non-representative sample of men who have sex with men in Europe about pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV prevention. This is part of the monitoring of the implementation of the Dublin Declaration on the partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia in 2016. Available online on the ECDC website |
| Technical documents |
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Handbook on using the ECDC preparedness checklist tool to strengthen preparedness against communicable disease outbreaks at migrant reception/detention centres Date of publication: 19 October 2016 In order to support EU/EEA Member States in improving preparedness at migrant hosting sites where there is the potential for sudden influxes of migrants, ECDC has commissioned the development of a preparedness checklist tool. This Excel tool will help establish a quick and flexible evidence-based approach to assessing reception/detention centre needs for communicable disease control, particularly in the event of a sudden influx of migrants. The checklist tool described in this handbook is intended for EU/EEA public health authorities who need to assess the capacity for communicable disease prevention and control at migrant reception/detention centres hosting migrants in the medium-term in order to identify gaps and set priorities for development. Available online on the ECDC website |
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Handbook on implementing syndromic surveillance in migrant reception/detention centres and other refugee settings Date of publication: 19 October 2016 This handbook is designed to assist public health authorities in developing syndromic surveillance protocols that complement routine surveillance in migrant reception centres and refugee hosting sites. Such protocols can assist in the detection of events such as large outbreaks or single cases of outbreak-prone conditions that would require an assessment in order to trigger and guide an appropriate public health response. Available online on the ECDC website |
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Communication strategies for the prevention of HIV, STI and hepatitis among MSM in Europe Date of publication: 14 October 2016 This document provides guidance on developing innovative and effective communication strategies to promote a culture of lower risk behaviour in the MSM community, supporting men who have sex with men (MSM) to make decisions that reduce their risk of HIV, STI and viral hepatitis transmission. It is intended as a practical tool for selecting and locally adapting appropriate communication interventions to a variety of contexts in the European Union and European Economic Area. Available online on the ECDC website |
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Point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals – protocol version 5.3 Date of publication: 12 October 2016 Version 5.3 is the final protocol for the second EU-wide point prevalence survey (PPS 2016-2017). It contains major changes compared to protocol version 4.3 (PPS 2011-2012). Compared to versions 5.1 (January 2016) and 5.2 (May 2016), the current version only contains a few corrections, editorial changes and clarifications. Available online on the ECDC website |
| Technical reports |
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External quality assessment scheme for influenza antiviral susceptibility for the European Reference Laboratory Network for Human Influenza – 2015 Date of publication: 13 October 2016 In June and July 2015, an influenza virus antiviral susceptibility external quality assessment was held for European reference laboratories. This was the third antiviral EQA panel distributed by the European Reference Laboratory Network for Human Influenza since the European Influenza Surveillance Network was established in 2008. Available online on the ECDC website |
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External quality assessment scheme for detection, isolation and characterisation of influenza viruses for the European Reference Laboratory Network for Human Influenza – 2015 Date of publication: 13 October 2016 In June and July 2015, an influenza virus rapid detection, isolation and characterisation external quality assessment (EQA) exercise was held for European influenza reference laboratories. This was the fourth rapid detection, isolation and characterisation EQA panel distributed by the European Reference Laboratory Network for Human Influenza. Available online on the ECDC website |
| Surveillance reports |
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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 |
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Publications by ECDC staff in scientific journals Updated: September 2016 The full list of all scientific peer-reviewed publications produced by ECDC staff on behalf of the Centre for the period January 2005 – March 2016 is available on the ECDC website. Available online on the ECDC website |
