Eurosurveillance最新文献

Influenza circulates at high levels in Europe since November 2024. Using a test-negative study based on data from French community laboratories between October 2024 and February 2025, we estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against PCR-detected influenza infection (44,420/15,052; positive/negative individuals). For all age groups, the overall VE was 42% (95% CI: 37-46%), with 26% (95% CI: 18-34%) against influenza A and 75% (95% CI: 66-82%) against influenza B. Among individuals ≥ 65-year-olds VE was 22% (95% CI: 13-30%) and among 0-64-year-olds, 60% (95% CI: 56-65%).

We report an adenovirus outbreak with unusually severe clinical presentation, particularly in military conscripts and their close contacts. During 1 February-30 June 2024, 129 patients with adenovirus infection were hospitalised, 30 were admitted to ICU, 10 required ECMO treatment and six died. Cases consisted of 75 conscripts (58.1%) and 54 civilians (41.9%). Most samples were type 7 (97/108; 89.8%); all 24 sequenced samples were subtype 7d. During 1 August-30 November 2024, 274 additional hospitalised cases were identified from registries.

BackgroundThe first autochthonous human West Nile virus (WNV)-positive cases in Germany were confirmed in 2019. Risk minimisation measures (RMM) were introduced in 2020; no WNV transfusion-transmitted infections have been reported to date.AimTo analyse German suspected WNV-positive blood donations during annual seasons 2020-23 to review donor testing requirements.MethodsWNV look-back procedures were initiated as per German regulations and additional donor data were collected. Blood samples were analysed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), individual donor nucleic acid amplification technique (ID-NAT)-based testing and antibody (Ab) testing.ResultsSeventy-four cases were followed up after WNV-positive donor mini-pool screening. Forty-five (83%) of 54 samples tested with the cobas WNV assay and 14 (29%) of 49 samples tested with the RealStar WNV assay showed a reactive ID-NAT-based result; the viral load ranged between 70,251 IU/mL and values below quantification limits. Fifteen (23%) of 64 samples serologically tested were reactive with at least one of the three Ab tests performed; the previous WNV-negative donation was nearly always documented > 28 days before. Of 73 samples sequenced, mNGS detected WNV in 26 (36%) and other flaviviruses in 14 (19%) cases.ConclusionIn some suspected cases where a WNV infection was not confirmed, mNGS demonstrated a cross-reaction with other flaviviruses. Ab testing could only detect WNV in late stages of infection. A NAT-based WNV donor screening with a detection limit of at least 120 IU/mL seems to be a sufficiently effective RMM at present. However, a continuous re-evaluation of test strategy is always required.

BackgroundTick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a flavivirus spread by ticks and can cause tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in humans. Previously, TBE has been reported in returning travellers in the United Kingdom (UK), but in 2019 and 2020, two probable cases of TBE acquired in the UK were identified.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate TBE cases in the UK between 2015 and 2023, describing the incidence, place and mode of acquisition and diagnostic process.MethodsA retrospective review of possible, probable and confirmed cases of TBE diagnosed by the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) between January 2015 and December 2023 was performed. For cases identified in 2022 and 2023, clinical data were collected for enhanced surveillance using structured case record forms. Laboratory diagnosis is reviewed and described.ResultsWe identified 21 cases: three possible, seven probable and 11 confirmed cases. Of these, 12 were between January 2022 and December 2023: three possible, three probable and six confirmed cases. Two confirmed TBE cases had definite or highly probable acquisition in the UK, in June and August 2022, respectively. One of the possible cases had definite UK acquisition. Cases typically have a biphasic presentation, with encephalitis in the second phase.ConclusionClinicians should be aware of the possibility of TBE when the cause for encephalitis is not identified, even in the absence of travel to previously identified endemic regions.

We estimated early influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) for the 2024/25 season in outpatients, in Beijing using a test-negative design. A(H1N1)pdm09 dominated (99.3%), all sequenced strains (n = 38) clustered in clade 6B.1A.5a.2a, and 37 of 38 antigenically similar to the vaccine strain. VE against any influenza virus infection was 48.5% (95% CI: 34.8-59.5) and 48.7% (95% CI: 35.1-59.7) against A(H1N1)pdm09. Vaccination in the current or previous season against any influenza showed a VE of 52.5% to 54.9%, compared to no vaccination in both seasons.

BackgroundDuring the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination programmes targeted children and adolescents to prevent severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection.AimTo estimate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalisation due to COVID-19 in the paediatric population, among those with and without previously documented SARS-CoV-2 infection.MethodsWe established a fixed cohort followed for 12 months in Denmark, Norway, Italy, Luxembourg, Navarre (Spain) and Portugal using routine electronic health registries. The study commenced with paediatric COVID-19 vaccination campaign at each site between June 2021 and January 2022. The outcome was hospitalisation with a laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 as the main diagnosis. Using Cox proportional hazard models, VE was estimated as 1 minus the confounder-adjusted hazard ratio of COVID-19 hospitalisation between vaccinated and unvaccinated. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool VE estimates.ResultsWe included 4,144,667 5-11-year-olds and 3,861,841 12-17-year-olds. In 12-17-year-olds without previous infection, overall VE was 69% (95% CI: 40 to 84). VE declined with time since vaccination from 77% ≤ 3 months to 48% 180-365 days after immunisation. VE was 94% (95% CI: 90 to 96), 56% (95% CI: 3 to 80) and 41% (95% CI: -14 to 69) in the Delta, Omicron BA.1/BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 periods, respectively. In 12-17-year-olds with previous infection, one dose VE was 80% (95% CI: 18 to 95). VE estimates were similar for 5-11-year-olds but with lower precision.ConclusionVaccines recommended for 5-17-year-olds provided protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation, regardless of a previously documented infection of SARS-CoV-2, with high levels of protection in the first 3 months of the vaccination.

The 2024/25 influenza season in Europe is currently characterised by co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses, with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 predominating. Interim vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates from eight European studies (17 countries) indicate an all-age influenza A VE of 32-53% in primary care and 33-56% in hospital settings, with some signals of lower VE by subtype and higher VE against influenza B (≥ 58% across settings). Where feasible, influenza vaccination should be encouraged and other prevention measures strengthened.

Enterovirus (EV)-C105 is a rare genotype not previously detected in Spain. Between 2019 and 2024, we detected EV-C105 in respiratory samples of five patients, through routine EV surveillance. Three cases had respiratory illness and two were hospitalised for neurological illness. Four of the five sequenced strains belonged to an emerging clade (C1), defined by four novel nonsynonymous mutations in key antigenic epitopes. We recommend reinforced clinical awareness and EV genomic surveillance, including respiratory samples, even when symptoms are neurological.

BackgroundInfectiousness of respiratory viral infections is quantified as plaque forming units (PFU), requiring resource-intensive viral culture that is not routinely performed. We hypothesised that RNA viral load (VL) decline time (e-folding time) in people might serve as an alternative marker of infectiousness.AimThis study's objective was to evaluate the association of RNA VL decline time with RNA and PFU VL area under the curve (AUC) and transmission risk for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus.MethodsIn SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus community cohorts, viral RNA was quantified by reverse transcription quantitative PCR in serial upper respiratory tract (URT)-samples collected within households after an initial household-member tested positive for one virus. We evaluated correlations between RNA VL decline time and RNA and PFU-VL AUC. Associations between VL decline time and transmission risk in index-contact pairs were assessed.ResultsIn SARS-CoV-2 cases, we observed positive correlations between RNA VL decline time and RNA and PFU VL AUC with posterior probabilities 1 and 0.96 respectively. In influenza A cases a positive correlation between RNA VL decline time and RNA VL AUC was observed, with posterior probability of 0.87. Index case VL decline times one standard deviation above the cohort-mean showed a relative increase in secondary attack rates of 39% (95% credible interval (CrI): -6.9 to 95%) for SARS-CoV-2 and 25% (95% CrI: -11 to 71%) for influenza A virus.ConclusionWe identify VL decline time as a potential marker of infectiousness and transmission risk for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus. Early ascertainment of VL kinetics as part of surveillance of new viruses or variants could inform public health decision making.

BackgroundThe global dissemination of ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae FC428-like strains poses a public health concern. To assess and follow their spread, establishing effective antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance systems is essential.AimThis study aimed to track ceftriaxone-resistant FC428-like strains in parts of China, using a molecular screening tool.MethodsSamples were collected from Sichuan, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Guangdong provinces between 2019 and 2021. We employed a rapid molecular tool - the high-resolution melting analysis-based FC428 (HRM-FC428) assay, to screen for FC428-like strains. All FC428-like strains detected were further characterised by genotyping and PCR-sequencing.ResultsOf 1,042 tested samples, 44 harboured the penA-60.001 allele linked to ceftriaxone resistance, revealing a 4.2% prevalence of FC428-like strains. The HRM-FC428 assay additionally uncovered six strains with mosaic penA-195.001 or penA-232.001 alleles, both bearing the A311V mutation, a ceftriaxone resistance marker. During the study, the prevalence of FC428-like strains among overall samples appeared to increase, with rates of 2.8% (11/395) in 2019, 4.2% (16/378) in 2020, and 6.3% (17/269) in 2021. Some strains' sequence types (ST)s were identified across provinces (e.g. ST1903, ST1600) and most strains (24/44) were ST1903, an ST also reported in other regions/countries, suggesting local evolution and global transmission.ConclusionOur work underscores the value of culture-independent antimicrobial resistance monitoring and validates the use of molecular diagnostic tools, like the HRM-FC428 assay for this purpose. This study offers insights into the complex landscape of ceftriaxone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae, emphasising the importance of continued surveillance and global collaboration to mitigate this growing public health threat.