Eurosurveillance最新文献

BackgroundHepatitis E, a viral hepatitis caused mainly by the ingestion of raw or undercooked food, is not a notifiable disease in Spain.AimTo analyse the temporal trends, epidemiological characteristics and factors associated with severe disease from hepatitis E hospitalisations in Spain from 1997 to 2019.MethodsHospitalisation records were obtained from the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database. Temporal trends and seasonality were analysed by Poisson regression in years 1997-2015 and 2016-19, given changes in hospital discharge databases. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with severe disease.ResultsHepatitis E hospitalisation incidence increased from 0.22 cases per 1,000,000 inhabitants in 1997 to a maximum of 2.95 in 2018. Seasonality was observed during 2016-19 period, with more cases in the second and third quarters of the year. The incidence was higher in men vs women, and in the population aged over 40 years. Factors independently associated with death were age ≥ 50 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.43), chronic liver disease (aOR: 4.29), HIV infection (aOR: 3.00) and hepatitis B/C (aOR: 2.11).ConclusionsHepatitis E hospitalisations have increased in Spain in recent years, being more severe in cases with older age, chronic hepatic diseases and HIV infection. A greater incidence in men over 40 years and a possible seasonality were observed. Further studies are needed to assess the seasonality, geographical distribution and impact of the disease to guide public health actions for prevention and control.

BackgroundAfter most COVID-19 pandemic control measures were lifted in 2022, many infectious diseases re-emerged. An increase in invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections among adults and young children was reported by several countries. Viral infections including influenza and varicella, known risk factors for iGAS infection, also increased.AimTo estimate the proportion of GAS skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) and pneumonia/sepsis in children (≤ 5 years) attributable to varicella, and the proportion of GAS pneumonia/sepsis in children and adults attributable to potentially predisposing respiratory viruses influenza A and B, RSV, hMPV and SARS-CoV-2 in the Netherlands.MethodsWe performed time series regression using weekly data on respiratory viruses, varicella and non-invasive GAS infections and GAS isolates cultured from blood, lower airways, skin, pus and wounds, from January 2010 to March 2023.ResultsIn 2010-19, 50% (95% CI: 36-64) of GAS SSTI in children were attributable to varicella. Between January 2022 and March 2023, 34% (95% CI: 24-43) of GAS SSTI cases were attributable to varicella. Of iGAS pneumonia/sepsis between January 2022 and March 2023, 34% (95% CI: 20-49) and 25% (95% CI: 18-32) was attributable to respiratory virus infections in children and adults, respectively, with the largest contributor (17%) being influenza A.ConclusionsPredisposing viral infections likely contributed to, but cannot fully explain, the observed iGAS increase among children and adults in 2022-23 in the Netherlands. Public health measures to control viral infections, such as vaccination against varicella or influenza, might reduce the iGAS disease burden.

We report a considerable increase in enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) cases since July 2024, culminating in an ongoing outbreak of acute respiratory infections in northern Italy, accounting for nearly 90% of all enterovirus infections. The outbreak was identified by community- and hospital-based surveillance systems, detecting EV-D68 in individuals with mild-to-severe respiratory infections. These strains belonged to B3 and a divergent A2 lineage. An increase in adult cases was observed. Enhanced surveillance and molecular characterisation of EV-D68 across Europe are needed.

COVID-19 vaccination recommendations include healthcare workers (HCWs). We measured COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (CVE) of the autumn 2023 dose against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in a prospective cohort study of 1,305 HCWs from 13 European hospitals. Overall CVE was 22% (95% CI: -17 to 48), 49% (95% CI: -8 to 76) before and -11% (95% CI: -84 to 34) after the start of BA.2.86/JN.1 predominant circulation. Autumn 2023 COVID-19 vaccination led to a moderate-to-low reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence in HCWs. Monitoring of CVE is crucial for COVID-19 prevention.

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) has an enzootic cycle between birds and mosquitoes, humans being incidental dead-end hosts. Circulation of WNV is an increasing public health threat in Europe. While detection of WNV is notifiable in humans and animals in the European Union, surveillance based on human case numbers presents some limitations, including reporting delays.AimWe aimed to perform risk mapping of WNV circulation leading to human infections in Europe by integrating two types of surveillance systems: indicator-based and event-based surveillance.MethodsFor indicator-based surveillance, we used data on human case numbers reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and for event-based data, we retrieved information from news articles collected through an automated biosurveillance platform. In addition to these data sources, we also used environmental data to train ecological niche models to map the risk of local WNV circulation leading to human infections.ResultsThe ecological niche models based on both types of surveillance data highlighted new areas potentially at risk of WNV infection in humans, particularly in Spain, Italy, France and Greece.ConclusionAlthough event-based surveillance data do not constitute confirmed occurrence records, integrating both indicator-based and event-based surveillance data proved useful. These results underscore the potential for a more proactive and comprehensive strategy in managing the threat of WNV in Europe by combining indicator- and event-based and environmental data for effective surveillance and public health response.

We describe cases with monkeypox virus (MPXV) Clade Ib in Burundi from their first detection in July until 20 August 2024. Testing 442 people with vesicular lesions confirmed 170 cases (98 male; 72 female), 82 (48%) being < 15 years old. Differential diagnosis of the first 30 individuals testing MPXV negative revealed chickenpox in 20. Cases occurred in 26 of 49 Burundi health districts, but mostly in Bujumbura Nord (88/170; 67%). Case-derived MPXV genetic sequences from Burundi and South-Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), clustered together in phylogenetic analysis.

BackgroundBrown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are synanthropic rodents with worldwide distribution, which are known to harbour many zoonotic pathogens and parasites. No systematic zoonotic surveys targeting multiple pathogens and parasites have previously been conducted in urban rats in Finland.AimIn Helsinki, Finland, we explored the presence and prevalence in brown rats of certain pathogens and parasites (including helminths, viruses and bacteria) across potentially zoonotic taxa.MethodsWe opportunistically received rat carcasses from pest management operators and citizens from 2018 to 2023. We searched for heart- or lungworms, performed rat diaphragm digestion to check for Trichinella and morphologically identified intestinal helminths. We assessed virus exposure by immunofluorescence assay or PCR, and detected bacteria by PCR (Leptospira) or culture (Campylobacter).ResultsAmong the rats investigated for helminths, no heart- or lungworms or Trichinella species were detected and the most common finding was the cestode Hymenolepis nana (in 9.7% of individuals sampled, 28/288). For some of the surveyed virus taxa, several rats were seropositive (orthopoxviruses, 5.2%, 11/211; arenaviruses, 2.8%, 6/211; hantaviruses 5.2%, 11/211) or tested positive by PCR (rat hepatitis E virus, 1.8%, 4/216). Campylobacter jejuni (6.6%, 17/259) and Leptospira interrogans (1.2%, 2/163) bacteria were also present in the rat population examined.ConclusionsPrevalences of potentially zoonotic pathogens and parasites in brown rats in Helsinki appeared low. This may explain low or non-existent diagnosis levels of rat-borne pathogen and parasite infections reported in people there. Nevertheless, further assessment of under-diagnosis, which cannot be excluded, would enhance understanding the risks of zoonoses.

BackgroundThe first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was largely mitigated by limiting contacts in the general population. In early 2022, most contact-reducing measures were lifted.AimTo assess whether the population has reverted to pre-pandemic contact behaviour and how this would affect transmission potential of a newly emerging pathogen.MethodsWe compared two studies on contact behaviour in the Netherlands: the PIENTER Corona study, conducted during and after the pandemic (held every 2-6 months from April 2020) and the PIENTER3 study (2016-17, as pre-pandemic baseline). In both, participants (ages 1-85 years) reported number and age group of all face-to-face persons contacted on the previous day in a survey. Transmission potential was examined using the next-generation matrix approach.ResultsWe found an average of 15.4 (95% CI: 14.3-16.4) community contacts per person per day after the pandemic in May 2023, 13% lower than baseline (17.8; 95% CI: 17.0-18.5). Among all ages, children (5-9 years) had the highest number of contacts, both pre- and post-pandemic. Mainly adults aged 20-59 years had not reverted to pre-pandemic behaviours, possibly because they more often work from home. Although the number of contacts is lower compared to the pre-pandemic period, the effect on transmission potential of a newly emerging respiratory pathogen is limited if all age groups were equally susceptible.ConclusionContinuous monitoring of contacts can signal changes in contact patterns and can define a 'new normal' baseline. Both aspects are needed to prepare for a future pandemic.

Mayaro virus is endemic to the tropical Americas, where the incidence is currently increasing. Like other viruses of the Semliki Forest virus serocomplex, such as Alphavirus chikungunya, symptomatic infections are typically characterised by an acute febrile disease followed by long-lasting arthralgia. Cases in travellers are rarely reported but may be underdiagnosed. We report on four people who diagnosed with Mayaro fever after working in remote areas of Suriname as members of a film team.