bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Did public health travel advice reach EURO 2012 football fans? A social network survey
Authors: Janiec J , Zielicka-Hardy A , Polkowska A , Rogalska J , Sadkowska-Todys M
Published: October 2017

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Cutaneous infection caused by Bacillus anthracis in Larissa, Thessaly, Central Greece, July 2012
Authors: Stefos A , Gatselis N K , Goudelas A , Mpakarosi M , Papaparaskevas J , Dalekos G N , Petinaki E
Published: October 2017

In July 2012, a confirmed case of cutaneous anthrax infection in a stockbreeder in the prefecture of Larissa, Thessaly, Central Greece was reported. The investigation revealed five related deaths in animals (two dogs and three sheep). Control measures have been taken immediately in order to prevent further spread in humans and animals.
Detection of a novel human coronavirus by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Corman V M , Eckerle I , Bleicker T , Zaki A , Landt O , Eschbach-Bludau M , van Boheemen S , Gopal R , Ballhause M , Bestebroer T M , Muth D , Müller M A , Drexler J F , Zambon M , Osterhaus A D , Fouchier R M , Drosten C
Published: October 2017

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Increase in malaria cases imported from Pakistan to Germany in 2012
Authors: Stark K , Schöneberg I
Published: October 2017

A significant increase of malaria cases imported to Germany from Pakistan was observed in 2012. As of 14 November, Pakistan was the country of infection in 32 out of 434 malaria cases in 2012, compared to zero to eight annual malaria cases (out of over 500 cases) in previous years. Physicians and public health authorities should consider malaria in febrile patients returning or migrating from Pakistan.
Assays for laboratory confirmation of novel human coronavirus (hCoV-EMC) infections
Authors: Corman V M , Müller M A , Costabel U , Timm J , Binger T , Meyer B , Kreher P , Lattwein E , Eschbach-Bludau M , Nitsche A , Bleicker T , Landt O , Schweiger B , Drexler J F , Osterhaus A D , Haagmans B L , Dittmer U , Bonin F , Wolff T , Drosten C
Published: October 2017

We present a rigorously validated and highly sensitive confirmatory real-time RT-PCR assay (1A assay) that can be used in combination with the previously reported upE assay. Two additional RT-PCR assays for sequencing are described, targeting the RdRp gene (RdRpSeq assay) and N gene (NSeq assay), where an insertion/deletion polymorphism might exist among different hCoV-EMC strains. Finally, a simplified and biologically safe protocol for detection of antibody response by immunofluorescence microscopy was developed using convalescent patient serum.
Use of multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) in eight European countries, 2012
Authors: Lindstedt B A , Torpdahl M , Vergnaud G , Le Hello S , Weill F  X , Tietze E , Malorny B , Prendergast D M , Ní Ghallchóir E , Lista R F , Schouls L  M , Söderlund R , Börjesson S , Åkerström S
Published: October 2017

Genotyping of important medical or veterinary prokaryotes has become a very important tool during the last decades. Rapid development of fragment-separation and sequencing technologies has made many new genotyping strategies possible. Among these new methods is multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Here we present an update on the use of MLVA in eight European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden). Researchers in Europe have been active in developing and implementing a large array of different assays. MLVA has been used as a typing tool in several contexts, from aiding in resolving outbreaks of food-borne bacteria to typing organisms that may pose a bioterrorist threat, as well as in scientific studies.
Laboratory-based surveillance in the molecular era: the TYPENED model, a joint data-sharing platform for clinical and public health laboratories
Authors: Niesters H G , Rossen J W , van der Avoort H , Baas D , Benschop K , Claas E C , Kroneman A , van Maarseveen N , Pas S , van Pelt W , Rahamat-Langendoen J C , Schuurman R , Vennema H , Verhoef L , Wolthers K , Koopmans M
Published: October 2017

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Low and decreasing vaccine effectiveness against influenza A(H3) in 2011/12 among vaccination target groups in Europe: results from the I-MOVE multicentre case–control study
Authors: Kissling E , Valenciano M , Larrauri A , Oroszi B , Cohen J  M , Nunes B , Pitigoi D , Rizzo C , Rebolledo J , Paradowska-Stankiewicz I , Jiménez-Jorge S , Horváth J K , Daviaud I , Guiomar R , Necula G , Bella A , O’Donnell J , Głuchowska M , Ciancio B  C , Nicoll A , Moren A
Published: October 2017

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Investigation into an unusual increase of human cases of Salmonella Goldcoast infection in Hungary in 2009
Authors: Horváth J K , Mengel M , Krisztalovics K , Nogrady N , Pászti J , Lenglet A , Takkinen J
Published: October 2017

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A multistate epidemic outbreak of Salmonella Goldcoast infection in humans, June 2009 to March 2010: the investigation in Italy
Authors: Scavia G , Ciaravino G , Luzzi I , Lenglet A , Ricci A , Barco L , Pavan A , Zaffanella F , Dionisi A M
Published: October 2017

After an urgent inquiry into a suspected international outbreak of Salmonella Goldcoast infection was launched by Hungary in October 2009 a nation-wide multidisciplinary investigation was carried out in Italy. The aims were to verify whether the higher than expected number of cases of S. Goldcoast infection that had occurred in Italy in the previous months were linked to the outbreak in Hungary and to determine their origin. Between June 2009 and March 2010, 79 confirmed cases of S. Goldcoast infection were identified. Of these, 17 were part of three different point-source outbreaks probably associated with the consumption of salami. Eating salami was also reported by 20 of the 39 sporadic cases that could be interviewed. Fifteen strains of S. Goldcoast isolated from the cases were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. They shared more than 90% homology with the Hungarian epidemic strain and were also highly similar to S. Goldcoast strains that had been isolated in Italy from pigs and pork-containing food items in 2009 and 2010. Although the origin of the outbreak and the common source linking the Hungarian and the Italian cases could not be definitively identified, our results suggest a possible zoonotic connection of the outbreak cases with the pork production chain.
Critical care surveillance: insights into the impact of the 2010/11 influenza season relative to the 2009/10 pandemic season in England
Authors: Green H K , Ellis J , Galiano M , Watson J  M , Pebody R  G
Published: October 2017

In 2010/11, the influenza season in England was marked by a relative increase in impact on the population compared to that seen during the 2009/10 pandemic, with the same influenza subtype, A(H1N1)pdm09, circulating. The peaks in critical care bed occupancy in both seasons coincided with peaks in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 activity, but onset of influenza in 2010/11 additionally coincided with notably cold weather, a comparatively smaller peak in influenza B activity and increased reports of bacterial co-infection. A bigger impact on critical care services was seen across all regions in England in 2010/11, with, compared to 2009/10, a notable age shift in critical care admissions from children to young adults. The peak of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity did not coincide with critical care admissions, and regression analysis suggested only a small proportion of critical care bed days might be attributed to the virus in either season. Differences in antiviral policy and improved overall vaccine uptake in 2010/11 with an influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strain containing vaccine between seasons are unlikely to explain the change in impact observed between the two seasons. The reasons behind the relative high level of severe disease in the 2010/11 winter are likely to have resulted from a combination of factors, including an age shift in infection, accumulation of susceptible individuals through waning immunity, new susceptible individuals from new births and cold weather. The importance of further development of severe influenza disease surveillance schemes for future seasons is reinforced.
Immunisation schedules in the countries of the European Union
Authors: Guérin N , Roure C
Published: October 2017

The WHO Regional Office for Europe organises meetings on immunisation programmes for national experts from all countries of the European Union (EU)and data on the incidence of diseases and immunisation coverage are regularly submitted to WHO. We have anal
Surveillance of tuberculosis in Europe
Authors: Schwoebel V , Rieder H. L. , Watson J M , Raviglione M. C. ,   for the working group for uniform reporting on tuberculosis in Europe
Published: October 2017

This paper summarises recommendations for uniform reporting on tuberculosis cases made by a working group set up in 1994 following a meeting on tuberculosis control in low prevalence countries. The meeting had been organised jointly by the World Health Or
Prevalence of HIV-2 infection in Europe
Authors: Cazein F , Hamers F F , Alix J , Brunet J B
Published: October 2017

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is primarily caused by HIV-1. Another type of virus, HIV-2, is found mainly in certain West African countries In Europe, most of the cases of HIV-2 infection described have been in people from Africa. The objective of this study was
Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in humans, food stuffs and livestock in Denmark
Authors: Wegener H C , Bager F , Aarestrup F M
Published: October 2017

A general increase in antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria is causing concern worldwide that the widespread use of antimicrobial agents in animal production may promote the development of resistant bacteria or resistance genes that can be tr
Changing patterns in acute clinical viral hepatitis encountered by Belgian general practitioners
Authors: Devroey D , van Casteren V , Vranckx R
Published: October 2017

The sentinel network of general practitioners in Belgium was set up in 1979 and monitors a wide range of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Such surveillance systems have been tested and found to be effective and are currently applied in several coun
Diphtheria cases notified in the European Union
Authors: Editorial Committee Collective
Published: October 2017

Following the receipt of the articles on diphtheria from Poland published in this issue of EuroSurveillance, members of the editorial board were asked about the occurrence of diphtheria cases in their country in the last ten years (mid 1987 to mid 1997),
A case report of laboratory-acquired diphtheria
Authors: Geiss H. K. , Kiehl W , Thilo W
Published: October 2017

In March 1996, when a 41 year old laboratory technician developed malaise, low grade fever, sore throat, hoarseness and dysphagia she was initially treated symptomatically. One day later, the patient was seen in the emergency room of an ear, nose, and thr
Diphtheria in the 1990s - do we have all the answers?
Authors: Editorial Committee Collective
Published: October 2017

The recent epidemic of diphtheria in the former Soviet Union has been a major threat to countries in western Europe, where levels of diphtheria anti-toxin in adults are less than optimal. The total number of cases in western Europe linked to countries fur
Recent changes in meningococcal disease in Europe
Authors: Hubert B , Caugant D A
Published: October 2017

Few infections can cause the social stress that occurs when meningococcal disease enters a community. The ability of Neisseria meningitidisto kill a healthy child within a few hours is one reason for this fear. It is also clear that preventive measures ag
The epidemiology of meningococcal disease in England and Wales, 1996 and 1997
Authors: Ramsay M E , Collins M , Rush M , Kaczmarksi E
Published: October 2017

Surveillance of meningococcal infection in England and Wales relies on three sources of data. Doctors are required by statute to notify clinically diagnosed cases of meningococcal meningitis and, since 1989, cases of meningococcal septicaemia (in the abse
Trends in serogroup C meningococcal disease in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Fogarty J
Published: October 2017

A national laboratory surveillance system for meningococcal disease was established in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) in November 1994. Data collection forms are returned centrally each month whether or not cases have occurred, containing a minimum data se
New epidemiological features of meningococcal disease in Belgium
Authors: Carion F , van Looveren M , Goossens H
Published: October 2017

SCIENTIFIC EDITOR In Belgium, after the epidemic of the early 1970s caused by Neisseria meningitidis B:2b:P1.2 (highest incidences in 1971 and 1972 with 5 cases per 100 000 population per year), the incidence of meningococcal disease fell to normal inter
Surveillance of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infections and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in Europe
Authors: Ammon A ,   Fellows of the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), Members of the National Public Health Institutes and Laboratories
Published: October 2017

Since they were first described, Escherichia coliO157: H7 and other related enterohaemorrhagic E. coli(EHEC) have become known as a major infectious cause of bloody diarrhoea. These E. coliproduce one or more shiga-toxins (stx) or Vero cytotoxins. Strictl
Increase of the number of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) isolated in Helsinki, Finland
Authors: Vuopio-Varkila J , Suppola J , Klinger N , Tarkka E , Kolho E
Published: October 2017

The emergence of hospital acquired infections with bacteria resistant to antimicrobials such as vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) has become a worldwide concern. In hospitals in the United States, VRE have spread quickly and currently account for eve
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a community strain
Authors: Wagenvoort J H T , Kepers-Rietrae M
Published: October 2017

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become particularly well known in association with hospital acquired infections but is also known to have infected people in the community. We define cases of community acquired MRSA infection as the
Tuberculosis in Europe: another step forward for international surveillance
Authors: Editorial team Collective
Published: October 2017

Spurred on by the reversal or slowing of the decline in tuberculosis incidence in many countries, the threat of the emergence of multidrug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and possibly by the success of international AIDS surveillance, European collaborators have completed a pilot study (reported in this issue) of the feasibility of standardising tuberculosis surveillance. Although the case definitions used within countries differ, these differences are unlikely to account for the large variations in the incidence of tuberculosis between countries, ranging in 1995 from 3 per 100 000 in Malta to 102/100 000 in Romania. Equally large differences between countries were observed for the proportions of cases who had been born abroad. The establishment of surveillance for Europe as a whole is likely to strengthen national tuberculosis reporting systems and enable multidrug resistance and the relative effectiveness of control programmes to be monitored closely. When standardised case specific data are shared routinely more sophisticated analyses will be possible, which should enable prevention policies to be selected that will hasten the elimination of “the captain of all these men of death”.
Sentinel surveillance of influenza in Europe 1997-1998
Authors: Zambon M ,   on behalf of EISS (European Influenza Surveillance Scheme)
Published: October 2017

The circulation of influenza virus is associated with increased consultation rates with general practitioners (GPs), increased hospital admissions, and excess deaths and has to be considered in health care planning. In western Europe, influenza viruses no
Imported malaria in Germany in 1996
Authors: Apitzsch L , Rasch Gernot , Kiehl W
Published: October 2017

Malaria is not endemic in Germany, but it is one of the most commonly imported infectious diseases. The numbers of imported cases increased from 1994 to 1996; in 1997 according to preliminary data there were a total of 994 cases. In 1996, 1021 cases of ma
Surveillance of malaria in European Union countries
Authors: Legros F , Danis M ,   and Eurosurveillance Editorial Board
Published: October 2017

The European Union countries are outside the endemic area for malaria, but many cases of malaria contracted elsewhere are imported into Europe each year. Several countries have reported high and increasing numbers of imported cases in recent years (France
European Union inventory of resources and means of control of communicable diseases
Authors: Salmaso S
Published: October 2017

The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) in Rome, in collaboration with the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) in London, and the Swedish Institute for Infectious Diseases Control (SIIDC) in Stockholm, is conducting a scientific and technical analysis
Surveillance of sexually transmitted diseases by laboratory networks in France
Authors: Goulet V , Sednaoui P
Published: October 2017

In France, most of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diagnosed by clinicians in the private sector (general practitioners, gynaecologists, dermatologists who specialise in venereal disease, and urologists) but genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics a
Viral marker rates among unpaid blood donors in Europe decreased from 1990 to 1996
Authors: Müller-Breitkreutz K , Evers T , Perry R ,   for the Working Group on Quality Assurance of the European Plasma Fractionation Association
Published: October 2017

Not for profit plasma fractionators in Europe believe that the standardised measurement and reporting of such epidemiological data is a key issue for public health. Accordingly, under the auspices of the European Plasma Fractionation Association (EPFA), t
Screening of viral markers for HIV HBV and HCV infections in blood donors in France and residual risk of viral transmission by blood transfusion
Authors: Pillonel J , Saura C , Couroucé A M
Published: October 2017

The first part of this article presents the results of screening tests for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from 1986 to 1996. The second part presents the most recent
Human outbreak of trichinellosis associated with the consumption of horsemeat in Italy
Authors: Pozio E , Sacchini D , Boni P , Tamburrini A , Alberici F , Paterlini F
Published: October 2017

Trichinellosis is endemic among sylvatic mammals in Italy, though it causes only few infections in humans, usually due to the consumption of pork from pigs grazing in wild areas or from wild boars. Most cases of human trichinellosis in Italy are due to th
Shellfish consumption and awareness of risk of acquiring hepatitis A among Neapolitan families - Italy 1997
Authors: Salamina G , D'Argenio P
Published: October 2017

In 1996, about 15% of all reported cases of hepatitis A (n=8651) in Italy were from the Campania region, with Naples reporting the region’s highest incidence (34.9/100 000). Almost a half of all cases were between 15 and 24 years of age. In recent years,
Surveillance of tuberculosis in the WHO European Region 1995-1996
Authors: Antoine D , Schwoebel V , Veen J , Raviglione M. C. , Rieder H. L. ,   the national coordinators for tuberculosis surveillance in 50 countries of the WHO European Region
Published: October 2017

The EuroTB programme for the surveillance of tuberculosis in Europe was set up in 1996 to collect, analyse, and disseminate data on tuberculosis cases notified in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. Following a feasibility study performed
Rare diseases deserve attention
Authors: Salmaso S
Published: October 2017

In August, Eurosurveillance published reports of two outbreaks of trichinellosis detected in 1998 in France and Italy and linked with horse meat imported from Yugoslavia. This issue, otherwise dedicated to botulism, includes a report of a third one. Repor
Asthma trends in Switzerland: the Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network, 1988-1996
Authors: Bollag U , Cloetta J , Oberreich J , Paget W J
Published: October 2017

The setting up of the Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network (SSSN) in 1986 has provided an excellent opportunity to study the distribution and determinants of asthma. The system provides morbidity data, which are representative of family practices in primar
Surveillance of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in health care workers: the Italian national programme
Authors: Ippolito G , Puro V , Petrosillo N , De Carli G ,   The Studio Italiano Rischio Occupazionale da HIV (SIROH) group
Published: October 2017

Health care workers (HCWs) face a serious risk of acquiring bloodborne infections, in particular hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), all of which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality
Leptospirosis in Portugal: epidemiology from 1991 to 1997
Authors: Falcão J M , Nogueira P J , Matias Dias C , Pimenta Z. P.
Published: October 2017

The term leptospirosis describes a group of diseases caused by members of the order Spirochaetales, mainly the species Leptospira interrogans. Infection can be asymptomatic but disease of differing severity and clinical features (often suggestive of menin
European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS): objectives and organisation
Authors: Bronzwaer S L A M , Goettsch W , Olsson-Liljequist B , Wale M C J , Vatopoulos A , Sprenger M. J.W
Published: October 2017

‘Effective European surveillance must have the agreement and active involvement of all participants’, concluded a European Union (EU) conference on the need for surveillance of resistant microorganisms (the microbial threat), held in September 1998 in De
The Enter-net international surveillance network – how it works
Authors: Fisher I. S.T. ,   on behalf of the Enter-net participants
Published: October 2017

Enter-net is an international network for the surveillance of human gastrointestinal infections, which monitors salmonellosis and Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157, including their antimicrobial resistance. When the network began it in
Surveillance of foodborne botulism in Poland: 1960-1998
Authors: Galazka A , Przybylska A
Published: October 2017

Human foodborne botulism, in contrast to the other two forms of botulism (wound and infant botulism), is an intoxication that results when preformed botulinum toxin is ingested. Sporadic cases and family and general outbreaks occur when food products are
Surveillance of respiratory pathogens and influenza-like illnesses in general practices - The Netherlands, winter 1997-98
Authors: Heijnen M. L.A. , Dorigo-Zetsma J W , Bartelds A I M , Wilbrink B , Sprenger M. J.W
Published: October 2017

The Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care (NIVEL) has coordinated the activities of a sentinel surveillance network of 43 general practices since 1970. These practices care for 1% of the Dutch population, a sample representative of the national pop
Investigation of an outbreak of amœbiasis in Georgia
Authors: Kreidl P , Imnadze P , Baidoshvili L , Greco D
Published: October 2017

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, occurs worldwide and 12% of the world's population are estimated to be infected. The prevalence of infection varies between 1% in industrialised countries to between 50% and 80% in tropical countries, where tra
Epidemic cluster of legionnaires’ disease in Paris, June 1998
Authors: Decludt B , Guillotin L , van Gastel B , Perrocheau A , Capek L , Ledrans M , Carlier D , Jarraud S , Dubrou S , Reyrolle M ,   J Etienne
Published: October 2017

From 29 June to July 1998, four cases of legionnaires’ disease in British citizens were reported to the Réseau National de Santé Publique (RNSP) by the statutory notification system (déclaration obligatoire (DO)) and by theEuropean Surveillance Scheme for
Surveillance of legionellosis within a hospital in northern Italy: May 1998 to September 1999
Authors: Borella P , Bargelini A , Pergolizzi S , Gesu G , Vaiani R , Stancanelli G , Nizzero P , Curti C , Aggazzotti G ,   R Mazzuconi
Published: October 2017

The incidence of legionella infection in Europe overall in 1997 was 3.9 cases per million population, with the lowest rates reported by Malta and Norway and the highest by Denmark. Ninety cases were reported in Italy (1.5 cases/million), 20% of which were
Recent trends in gonorrhoea – an emerging public health issue ?
Authors: Hughes G , Fenton K. A.
Published: October 2017

Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection remains one of the commonest bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in many developed countries. Its disproportionate burden on deprived, inner city populations and association with infertility have made its contr
The number of gonococcal infections identified by the RENAGO network is increasing
Authors: Goulet V , Sednaoui P , Laporte A , Billy C , Desenclos J C
Published: October 2017

Surveillance of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in France is based mainly on laboratory reporting, as STIs are not among the diseases notified by physicians. The network RENAGO (Réseau National du Gonocoque) was set up in 1986 to monitor national t
A national measles epidemic in Switzerland in 1997 : consequences for the elimination of measles by the year 2007
Authors: Paget W J , Zimmermann H , Vorkauf H ,   The Sentinella Working Group
Published: October 2017

Clinical cases of measles have been reported to the Swiss Sentinel Surveillance Network (Sentinella) since June 1986 and measles infections have been monitored by the national laboratory notification system since January 1988. These two surveillance syste
Measles : sub optimal situation in France
Authors: Branchet R , Chauvin P , Flahault A
Published: October 2017

The French sentinel network created in 1984 consists of general practitioners from the whole mainland, recruited on a voluntary basis. The members of the network follow up the weekly epidemiological surveillance of 10 health indicators (influenza-like
HIV reporting in western Europe : national systems and first European data
Authors: Infuso A , Hamers F F , Downs A M , Alix J ,   for the national correspondents of the European HIV reporting system in western European countries
Published: October 2017

AIDS case reporting has been an essential tool for monitoring HIV infection in western Europe. Recent trends in AIDS have been affected by improved antiretroviral treatments that delay HIV disease progression, however, and no longer serve as indicators of
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus: toward a coordinated response to a continuing challenge
Authors: Struelens M J , Denis O
Published: October 2017

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a major public health challenge in many health care institutions worldwide. It is a common cause of outbreaks of cross infection and has become endemic in many regions where it adds to the morb
Surveillance of tuberculosis in Ireland
Authors: Smith A , Igoe D , O’Flanagan D , Holohan T
Published: October 2017

The first disaggregate data on tuberculosis in Ireland were collected in 1998. A total of 424 cases were notified (rate 11.7/100 000 population), of which 241 cases were culture positive and 122 were smear positive pulmonary cases. Only 35 cases were fore
Surveillance of haemolytic uraemic syndrome in children under 15 years of age in France in 1998
Authors: Haeghebaert S , Vaillant V , Decludt B ,   P Bouvet,   P A D Grimont,   the Pediatric Nephrologist Netowork
Published: October 2017

Data from a national network of paediatric nephrology departments in France suggest that the incidence of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in 1998 was 0.7 cases per 100 000 children aged under 15 years and that cases occur sporadically. Six out of 85 cas
Italy’s new vaccination schedule reduced coverage of poliomyelitis vaccine in Naples
Authors: Panico M. G. , Trinchese N M , Serpieri B , Attena F
Published: October 2017

Italy’s health ministry introduced changes to the immunisation schedules for children on 7 April 1999, including immunisation against poliomyelitis. The changes included the replacement of the first two childhood doses of oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV)
New variant of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease
Authors: Dormont D
Published: October 2017

Work on experimental pathology carried out for over 10 years indicates that the biological properties of the BSE agent, responsible for the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), are particular. In contrast to the situation observed in the other
Epidemiological status of BSE in France – update on ‘born after the ban’ cases
Authors: Ducrot C , Calavas D , Baron T , Agrech A  E , Coudert M , Savey M
Published: October 2017

Despite measures taken in France since 1990 to control the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the incidence of BSE cases notified in France by the BSE Epidemiological Surveillance Network has been rising in recent years. By 1 July 2000, 103
Development of a research network for emerging foodborne pathogens in Germany
Authors: Werber D , Ammon A ,   The research network for emerging foodborne pathogens in Germany
Published: October 2017

A network of epidemiologists, microbiologists, veterinarians, and clinicians is being developed in Germany to support local and state health departments and veterinary authorities in their research and epidemiological investigations on emerging foodborne
National policies for preventing antimicrobial resistance - the situation in 17 European countries in late 2000
Authors: Therre H
Published: October 2017

A survey carried out within Member States of the European Union and Norway shows that in all but two countries national surveillance of microorganisms resistant to antibiotics existed in December 2000. In Italy, Ireland and Scotland, the systems were set up very recently (respectively in 1998, 1999 and 1999). Moreover, excepting of Ireland and Scotland, all countries have a national system for data collection on the consumption of antibiotics, namely since 2000 in Austria, Italy and Luxembourg. Several of these systems were set up after 1998 when the recommendations of the European conference ‘The Microbial Threat’ held in Copenhague were published. In addition, a certain number of other measures have been undertaken since then: education campaigns to the population in England and Wales, in Ireland or in France, creation of committees specifically in charge of consumption surveillance in Italy or of the prevention of resistance in Belgium or in Ireland, publications of recommendations on the good use of antibiotics in Austria and in Finland, etc.
Intervention epidemiology training: a European perspective
Authors: van Loock F , Rowland Mike , Grein T , Moren A
Published: October 2017

Within the widening European Union, large-scale movements of people, animals and food-products increasingly contribute to the potential for spread of communicable diseases. The EU was given a mandate for public health action only in 1992, under the Treaty of European Union ("Maastricht Treaty"), which was broadened in the 1997 with the Treaty of Amsterdam.
While all EU countries have statutory requirements for notifying communicable diseases, national and regional communicable disease surveillance practices vary considerably (1). The Network Committee (NC) for the Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases in the EU was established in 1998 to harmonise these activities.
Applied field epidemiology programme in Spain
Authors: Martinez Navarro J. F. , Herrera D , Sanchez Barco Candi
Published: October 2017

In 1994, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII; Carlos III Health Institute) of the Spanish Ministry of Health and the Consumer (MSC) created the Programa de Epidemiología Aplicada de Campo (PEAC; Applied Field Epidemiology Programme). The programme is managed by the Centro Nacional de Epidemiología (National Epidemiological Centre) in collaboration with the Escuela Nacional de Sanidad (National School of Health), and supported by General Direction for Health and Consumer of MSC and the Health Councils (Consejerías de Sanidad) of the autonomous regions.
The PEAC runs a masters degree programme in applied field epidemiology, in which degrees are conferred by the National School of Health. As PEAC is a national programme, it forms a part of the European Program for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET) and is a member of the Network Training for Epidemiology Public Health Intervention (TEPHINET), the association of 27 regional and national programmes of the acting Intervention Epidemiology Training Programs.
The EUVAC-NET project: creation and operation of a surveillance community network for vaccine preventable infectious diseases
Authors: Glismann S , Rønne T , Tozzi A  E
Published: October 2017

The EUVAC-NET network is in charge of the epidemiological surveillance and control of vaccine preventable diseases. It is coordinated by the SSI in Denmark, in collaboration with the ISS in Italy. The two main diseases targeted by the network are measles and pertussis. A collaboration is planned with the PHLS for the monitoring of Haemophilus influenzae b. EUVAC-NET includes the Member States of the European Union, and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Evolution of antibiotic resistance of non-typhoidal salmonellae in Greece during 1990-97
Authors: Velonakis E N , Markogiannakis A , Kondili L , Varjioti E , Mahera Z , Vakalis N , Dedouli E , Karaitianou A , Bethimouti K
Published: October 2017

Susceptibility to 15 antibiotics was determined in 1548 non-typhoidal salmonella strains isolated in Greece from l990 to l997. The overall prevalence of resistance of both Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium increased during the first years of the study. A decrease was observed from 1996, especially for S. Enteritidis, which showed the highest overall antibiotic resistance. S. Typhimurium was the serotype with the highest multiresistance to antibiotics. The rest of the serotypes had very low resistance prevalence compared with both S. Enteritidis and Typhimurium serotypes.
Monitoring of influenza in the EISS European network member countries from October 2000 to April 2001
Authors:   J C Manuguerra, Mosnier A , Paget W J ,   on behalf of EISS participants
Published: October 2017

In countries covered by the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS), the 2000-2001 winter was marked mainly by the spread of influenza A(H1N1) viruses. Influenza B, which globally represented a minority of cases, was common later in the season and predo-minant in Great Britain, Ireland, and Portugal. Influenza activity was at its maximum during the period of January and February/March 2001 with little time lag between countries (maximum four weeks). Overall, the morbidity rates reported were much lower than for the previous season, illustrating a moderate level of influenza activity.
Influenza pandemic planning in Europe
Authors: Paget W J ,   J F Aguilera,   on behalf of the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS)
Published: October 2017

The World Health Organization strongly recommends that all countries prepare in advance multidisciplinary pandemic plans to prevent and control the next influenza pandemic. We carried out a survey of influenza surveil-lance methods among members of the European Influenza Surveillance Schemes, EISS, which included a set of questions on pandemic planning. All but one of the countries have a pandemic plan or are in the process of producing one. A coordination of these different national plans at a European level would probably contribute to their improved impact and efficiency.
Deliberate releases of biological agents: initial lessons for Europe from events in the United States
Authors: Harling R , Twisselmann B , Asgari N , Morgan D , Lightfoot N , Reacher M , Nicoll A ,   for the Deliberate Release Teams
Published: October 2017

The experience of autumn 2001, when anthrax spores were released in the postal system, had considerable consequences in the United States and in Europe. The threat of covert deliberate releases against civilians has become a reality. In Europe, despite the growing number of criminal hoaxes, no cases of anthrax linked to deliberate releases have been reported, and the only contaminated letters were addressed to American embassies abroad. Nevertheless, the time has come for Europe to set up efficient and timely plans to respond to bioterrorism, under the coordination of the European Commission.
A summary report from Amsterdam: increase in sexually transmitted diseases and risky sexual behaviour among homosexual men in relation to the introduction of new anti-HIV drugs
Authors: Stolte G , Dukers N H T M , de Wit J B F , Fennema H , Coutinho R A
Published: October 2017

The worrying increase of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Amsterdam was investigated in two studies carried out by the department of AIDS research of the municipal health service. The results indicate that the introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapies (HAART) may have had an influence on the increase of STDs and risky sexual behaviours in Amsterdam.
Ebola in Africa - Discoveries in the past decade
Authors: Arthur R  R
Published: October 2017

Within the past decade, Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) has been recognised for the first time in four countries. Our understanding of the epidemiology, clinical aspects, laboratory diagnosis and control measures for EHF has improved considerably as a result of the outbreaks in these countries and the re-emergence that has occurred in another. The coordinated international responses to several of the large EHF outbreaks serve as models for controlling epidemics of other communicable diseases. This report is a chronological overview of the EHF outbreaks in Africa during the past decade, including the recent epidemics in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, and highlights new discoveries and some of the remaining challenges.
Viral haemorrhagic fevers in Europe – Effective control requires a co-ordinated response
Authors: Crowcroft N , Morgan D , Brown D  W
Published: October 2017

Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF) have attracted the attention of the medical world and general public for many reasons, some based in reality and more on misinformation. They are amongst the highest profile infections in the public mind, because they are thought to be highly infectious and to kill most of their victims in a dramatic way (1,2). To add to the intrigue, mysteries remain about the source of some of the viruses involved. They emerge and re-emerge in many countries, most recently Ebola in Uganda in 2000 (3) and Gabon in 2001/02 (4), and Congo Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Kosovo (5) and Pakistan in 2001 (6). Large outbreaks have affected populations in endemic areas, living mainly in inaccessible areas or refugee camps where living conditions are very difficult. Poorly resourced medical facilities have played a role in amplifying transmission and infection control measures have been difficult or virtually impossible to establish. These viruses are likely to remain a threat until the reservoir is identified and as long as endemic areas are afflicted with ecological change, poverty and social instability. Recent events since September 11 2001 remind us of their potential to be used as weapons, and that fear can present a risk to public health.
Measles in France: the epidemiological impact of suboptimal immunisation coverage
Authors: Bonmarin I , Lévy-Bruhl D
Published: October 2017

The promotion of immunisation in France since 1983 has resulted in a 97% reduction in morbidity and a reduction of 60% of mortality. However, the stable and sub-optimal coverage around 84% leads to a shift in higher age groups, where complications are more frequent and serious. The proportion of those aged over 10 years was 13% in 1985 and reached 48% in 1997, the transmission of measles being maintained in France. To eliminate the disease, vaccine coverage with 2 doses and over 95% would be necessary.
Laboratory capability in Europe for foodborne viruses
Authors: Lopman B A , van Duynhoven Y , Hanon F X , Reacher M , Koopmans M , Brown D W ,   on behalf of the consortium on foodborne viruses in Europe
Published: October 2017

This report describes a survey of national laboratory capabilities of diagnostics and surveillance databases for foodborne viruses among the "Foodborne Viruses in Europe" consortium.

All the countries have laboratories that can test for HAV antibody in human serum. Eight of the ten surveyed European countries maintain a national database of HAV cases. Food can be tested for the presence of HAV in Finland, Italy, Spain, France and Denmark.

All surveyed countries have at least one laboratory that tests for Norwalk-like virus (NLV) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and all also have the capability to use electron microscopy. Five countries maintain a national database of NLV cases and nine maintain a national database of NLV outbreaks. Almost all participant countries have laboratories that can test for NLV in food items including shellfish.
Surveillance of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in Europe, 1999
Authors: Infuso A , Antoine D , Barboza P , Falzon D ,   on behalf of he national correspondents for tuberculosis surveillance in the countries in the WHO European Region
Published: October 2017

With the exception of Israel, representative data from Western and Central Europe indicate consistently low levels of resistance to isoniazid (0-9,3%) or rifampicin (0-2,1%) and of multidrug resistance (0-2,1%) among new tuberculosis (TB) cases. Resistance is more frequent among previously treated cases, but comparisons of data should be done cautiously, as criteria for inclusion in TB notifications may vary across countries. In Western Europe, drug resistance is more frequent among cases of foreign origin, a group with high TB incidence. In 1999, cases of foreign origin accounted for over 90% of the MDR cases in the West, and for all MDR cases notified in Israel. The majority of foreign born cases notified originated from Africa or Asia. In the East, representative data from the Baltic States show that overall, 15% of TB cases notified in 1999 were MDR, among the highest proportion worldwide and indicating inadequacies in previous treatment programmes. In the other countries of the former Soviet Union, non-representative data show high levels of resistance which, along with data from the Baltic states and results of surveys, are very alarming.
The ICU-HELICS programme: Towards European surveillance of hospital-acquired infections in intensive care units
Authors: Suetens C , Savey A , Labeeuw J , Morales I ,   on behalf of the working group HELICS-ICU
Published: October 2017

The creation of a database intended for the comparative analysis of the rates of hospital-acquired infections in the 15 countries of the European Union is among the objectives of the HELICS network (Hospitals in Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance).
Mild to moderate influenza activity in Europe and the detection of novel A(H1N2) and B viruses during the winter of 2001-02
Authors: Paget W J , Meerhoff T J , Goddard N L ,   on behalf of EISS
Published: October 2017

Influenza activity in Europe during the 2001-02 influenza season was mild to moderate. Compared to historical data, the intensity was low in six countries, medium in eleven and high in one country (Spain). The dominant virus circulating in Europe was influenza A(H3N2). Two novel influenza virus strains were isolated during the 2001-02 season: influenza A(H1N2) viruses (mainly isolated in the United Kingdom and Ireland, but also in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Romania), and influenza B viruses belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage (mainly isolated in Germany, but also sporadically in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway). With the exception of H1N2 virus detections in England, and Ireland and the influenza B viruses belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage in Germany, these two viruses did not circulate widely in Europe and did not play an important role in influenza activity during the 2001-02 season. An influenza B virus belonging to the B/Victoria/2/87 lineage will be included in the 2002-03 influenza vaccine. The new subtype influenza A(H1N2) is covered by the 2002-03 vaccine, as the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase components of the H1N2 viruses are antigenically similar to the vaccine components (H1N1 and H3N2).
Development of a protocol to evaluate the quality of clinical influenza data collected by sentinel practitioners in Europe
Authors: Aguilera J F , Paget W J , Van Der Velden J
Published: October 2017

EISS implemented an evaluation protocol to assess the quality of clinical data collected by sentinel networks for the surveillance of influenza. The protocol was applied in Belgium and in three regions in Spain where it resulted in recommendations to improve the national and regional surveillance networks.
Influenza pandemic preparedness and response planning at community level
Authors: Karcher F , Buchow H
Published: October 2017

In November 2001 the European Commission invited experts from all over Europe to express their views on ways to improve preparedness for an influenza pandemic at the European Community level. The conference was well attended and key actions to be addressed by public health authorities in cooperation with decision makers and the pharmaceutical industry were identified (1).
Outbreak of influenza, Madagascar, July-August 2002
Authors: WHO-GOARN investigation team
Published: October 2017

Preliminary investigation found that a large outbreak of influenza-like illness occurred in Madagascar during July–August 2002, with 30 304 cases and 754 deaths reported. Most cases were reported from the highland regions of Fianarantsoa Province, in centre Madagascar. The majority of the cases lived in rural areas, and children under five years and adults 60 years and older were the most affected. The outbreak was attributable to an A/Panama/2007/99-like (H3N2) virus, which has been circulating worldwide for several years.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and related diseases in France from 1998 to 2000
Authors: Capek L , Vaillant V ,   on behalf of the French national Network for the surveillance of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and related diseases
Published: October 2017

In France, the number of reports of suspected CJD increased from 1998 to 2000, probably due to the increase in the requests for biological tests: respectively 459 in 1998, 590 in 1999, and 823 in 2000. For all three years, the distribution by sex is similar, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.05. The proportion of suspected cases aged under 50 remained stable (16% of all reports in 1998–2000). The number of sporadic CJD, confirmed or probable, was stable, with a mortality ratio of 1.38 per one million in 1998, 1.56 in 1999, and 1.41 in 2000.
Explosive increase of Salmonella Java in poultry in the Netherlands: Consequences for public health
Authors: van Pelt W , van der Zee H , Wannet W  J B , van de Giessen A. W , Mevius D. J , Bolder N  M ,   R E Komijn,   Y T H P van Duynhoven
Published: October 2017

In the Netherlands Salmonella Paratyphi B variant Java increased in poultry from less than 2% of all isolates before 1996 to 60% in 2002. Despite exposure to contaminated meat is high, human patients with Java infection are rare (0.3% of all isolates). However, 50% of the human isolates showed PFGE profiles identical to the poultry clone. Resistance to flumequin in S. Java increased from 3% between 1996-2000 to 19% in 2001, and 39% in 2002, while that of other serotypes in poultry remained at about 7%. S. Java is also fast becoming less sensitive to ciprofloxacin.