Eurosurveillance最新文献

In June 2025, 25 botulism cases were identified among recipients of botulinum neurotoxin-containing cosmetic injections in North East England. A case-control study indicated that cases were more likely to have attended two specific practitioners and received an unlicensed product (p < 0.001). Testing of seized product detected a potency (370 units/vial) that was higher than listed on its labelling (200 units/vial). Strengthened regulation of cosmetic procedures is necessary for mitigating public health risks, which are exacerbated by the availability of unlicensed products.

Background: Hepatitis A incidence in Portugal declined from 20.1 to 0.4/100,000 population between 1987 and 2023, changing non-vaccinated population susceptibility. This shift has contributed to more frequent outbreaks, including in 2024-25, highlighting the need to enhance surveillance and integrate serological data.

Aim: We aimed to describe the exposure profile of the Portuguese population to hepatitis A virus (HAV) over time by estimating and comparing the seroprevalence of hepatitis A in two nationwide surveys.

Methods: Data from two cross-sectional seroprevalence studies performed in 2001-02 and 2015-16 in the population aged ≥ 2 years were analysed. Seroprevalence was weighted for population distribution by age, sex and region, and then analysed by birth cohort (1911 -2014) and compared using Poisson regression.

Results: Overall prevalence of anti-HAV IgG antibodies was 67.3% (95% CI: 64.2-70.3) in 2001-02 (n = 1,642) and 56.3% (95% CI: 52.4-60.2) in 2015-16 (n = 2,052), showing an 11-percentage-point decline. Birth cohort analysis revealed consistent seroprevalence within each cohort in both surveys, i.e. seroprevalence for the 1981-90 birth cohort was 16.7% and 18.7%, respectively, suggesting that higher seroprevalence is more closely associated with birth cohort (cohort effect) rather than a specific time point. Additionally, we found that individuals aged ≥ 30 years, born before the 1980s, and those with lower education had higher seroprevalence.

Conclusions: The immunological profile of anti-HAV antibodies in the Portuguese population has shifted over the last decades. High susceptibility and shifting age distribution of Hepatitis A-seropositive individuals highlight the need to revise future vaccination strategies in Portugal.

Two rotavirus strain surveillance networks operate in Europe: the World Health Organization Global Rotavirus Surveillance Network and the European Rotavirus Network (EuroRotaNet). We describe and appraise rotavirus strain surveillance, with a focus on EuroRotaNet, which has conducted rotavirus strain surveillance since 2007 across 21 European countries. Since EuroRotaNet began, epidemiological and genotype data has been collected on over 90,000 rotavirus-positive specimens. We identified distinct differences in strain distribution across seasons, countries, regions and age cohorts. As infant rotavirus vaccination has been rolled out in some European countries, the EuroRotaNet surveillance network is able to monitor changes in strain type circulation and signs of potential emergence of vaccine escape strains, comparing countries with and without vaccination programs. Despite natural fluctuations in strain distribution, the data show an increase in strain diversity after vaccine introduction, although no strain displacement due to vaccination nor emergence of unusual strains of epidemiologically significance were noted. The EuroRotaNet surveillance network takes a pragmatic approach to surveillance and is not overly prescriptive, creating a wide, engaged and sustainable network.

We report the timely detection of a strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae which was confirmed as a diagnostic escape mutant on the Cepheid Xpert CT/NG assay in England in June 2025. The reason for assay failure was a likely recombination event with Neisseria meningitidis, which removed both assay target sites. Seven historical putative Xpert CT/NG assay diagnostic escape mutants were also identified following subsequent in silico screening of gonococcal genome collections, but currently there is no evidence of widespread circulation.

INTRODUCTIONData for healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and antibiotic use in long-term care facilities (LTCF) in Switzerland are lacking but are necessary to take actions.AIMWe aimed to estimate HAI prevalence and antibiotic use and to record existing structure and process indicators in the area of infection prevention/antibiotic use in Swiss LTCF.METHODSWe invited all Swiss LTCF for this PPS in September 2024 using the adapted Healthcare-Associated Infections in European Long-Term Care Facilities (HALT)-4 protocol. The proportion of residents with HAI and systemic antibiotic treatment was calculated for a representative sample, stratified by language region and size. We assessed resident-level and institutional risk factors for HAI in all participating institutions, using random-effects logistic regression.RESULTSWe included 94 LTCF (7,244 residents), whereof 49 LTCFs (3,375 residents) belonged to the representative sample. Median age of residents in the representative sample was 87 years (range: 36-107) and 2,334 (69.2%) were female. Prevalence of HAI was 2.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.7); 2.7% (95% CI: 2.2-3.3) were receiving antibiotic treatment, with highest use in LTCF in French-speaking cantons (5.9%; 95% CI: 4.2-7.5). Urinary tract (46%) and respiratory infections (20%) were most common, aminopenicillins (26%) and nitrofurantoin (19%) the most commonly used antimicrobials. The strongest independent risk factor for HAI was presence of urinary catheters (adjusted odds ratio = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.71-4.11).DISCUSSIONPrevalence of HAI and antibiotic use in Swiss LTCFs were comparable to the European average from 2023/24. There are regional differences in antibiotic consumption. Urinary catheterisation, potentially modifiable, was the most important risk factor for HAI.

BACKGROUNDHospital-based communicable disease surveillance may be costly during large outbreaks and often misses mild or asymptomatic infections. It can be enhanced by environmental surveillance, which monitors circulating pathogens, even from asymptomatic carriers.AIMWe investigated if tracking viruses in indoor air could be used for their surveillance in a community setting. We also tested the value of untargeted metagenomics to identify viruses in air samples.METHODSWeekly indoor air samples were collected with active air samplers from January until December 2022 from a daycare centre in Leuven, Belgium. Samples were analysed using respiratory and enteric quantitative (q)PCR panels, as well as with untargeted metagenomics, enabling both targeted and agnostic viral detections.RESULTSHuman-associated viruses were detected in 40 of 42 samples across the study period, with MW polyomavirus being most prevalent (33 samples). Respiratory agents such as rhinoviruses and RSV-B and enteric viruses including rotavirus A, astrovirus, and adenovirus appeared at epidemiologically expected times. Skin-associated viruses were also observed, notably Merkel cell polyomavirus and STL polyomavirus. Metagenomics enabled reconstructing multiple complete genomes, distinguishing viral subtypes and detecting copresence of closely related variants. Additionally, several animal, insect, fungal, and plant viruses were found, reflecting both indoor and outdoor environmental exposure.CONCLUSIONIndoor air monitoring, combined with untargeted metagenomics, demonstrates a potential to support virus surveillance. This approach can allow monitoring circulation of viruses in community settings, including those causing asymptomatic or mild infections. By enabling to reconstruct complete viral genomes, it allows detailed variant tracking, facilitating adapted public health responses.

BACKGROUNDTo spot potential introductions of West Nile virus (WNV) into Denmark, a national surveillance programme for WNV was established in 2011. The relevance of this programme was underscored in the late 2010s, when WNV was detected in areas close to Denmark.AIMWe describe the Danish WNV surveillance programme and its findings in 2011-2023.METHODSThe surveillance programme monitors mosquitoes, which are WNV vectors, and some mammalian animals and birds, which are WNV hosts. Surveillance samples are also tested for the closely related Usutu virus (USUV), which, like WNV, is a flavivirus. During the study, WNV and USUV RNAs were sought in 62 bats (sampled in 2022-2023), 5,661 Culex sp. mosquitoes (2011-2023), 628 dead wild birds (2011-2014 and 2019-2023), and 492 live birds (2011-2012, 2022-2023). These 492 birds were from among 3,269 live long-distance migratory birds (sampled in 2011-2023) serologically tested for WNV and USUV antibodies. Additionally, 4,978 free-ranging poultry (2011-2023) and 236 horses (2011-2013) were tested serologically.RESULTSNeither WNV nor USUV RNA was detected in bats, mosquitoes, or birds, but anti-WNV specific antibodies were detected in migratory birds, one domestic chicken and one imported horse. For migratory birds, competitive ELISAs detected anti-flavivirus antibodies in 3.9% (128/3,269) of tested samples. Across 2011-2023, the annual flavivirus seroprevalence varied from 1-13%. Using virus neutralisation assays on selected samples, anti-WNV or anti-USUV specific antibodies were detected in 25 and 11 bird samples, respectively.CONCLUSIONSFindings demonstrate that the concern about virus incursion is well founded and support continued vigilance for WNV.

BACKGROUNDLyme borreliosis (LB) caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) spirochetes is the most common tick-borne infection in Europe and the incidence of LB has been increasing in many countries.AIMWe examined changes in Bbsl seroprevalence in Finland over the past 50 years.METHODSWe analysed samples collected from people aged ≥ 15 years in nationwide cross-sectional health surveys conducted over the years 1966-1972, 1978-1980, 2000-2001 and 2017. Samples were screened with an IgG ELISA assay and confirmed with an IgG bead immunoassay. We assessed factors associated with Bbsl seropositivity by generalised linear models.RESULTSSeroprevalence was highest in 1966-1972 (25.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 22.3-27.7%), while it was lower in 1978-1980 (16.6%; 95% CI: 14.3-18.9%), 2000-2001 (7.4%; 95% CI: 5.8-9.0%) and 2017 (3.4%; 95% CI: 2.3-4.5%). Male sex (p = 0.0014) and increasing age (p < 0.0001) were associated with higher seropositivity. The estimated probability of being seropositive was highest among residents from southern (least squares (LS) mean: 0.164; 95% CI: 0.139-0.192), central and eastern Finland (LS mean: 0.141; 95% CI: 0.116-0.170) and lowest in northern Finland (LS mean: 0.019; 95% CI: 0.014-0.028).CONCLUSIONOur results show a decrease in the seroprevalence in Finnish people over time. Reasons for this decrease are not clear but could be related to urbanisation, increased awareness, effective diagnostics and prompt antibiotic treatments. Overall, this study demonstrates how repeated serosurveys can help in revealing trends and identifying potential risk groups.

In week 33, 2025, the integrated respiratory virus surveillance at Statens Serum Institut, Denmark, detected an atypical sixfold increase in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases. Rapid sequencing of viruses collected in week 33 identified a highly related cluster of 17 cases. Telephone interviews with patients belonging to this cluster revealed that they all had attended a large open-air music festival. This is the first time an influenza outbreak has been detected during the summer in Denmark related to a large gathering.