Despite high COVID-19 vaccine coverage in the EU/EEA, there are increasing reports of SARS-CoV-2 infections and hospitalisations in vaccinated individuals. Using surveillance data from Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg and Slovakia (January–November 2021), we estimated risk reduction of severe outcomes in vaccinated cases. Increasing age remains the most important driver of severity, and vaccination significantly reduces risk in all ages for hospitalisation (adjusted relative risk (aRR): 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.26–0.39) and death (aRR: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.13–0.29).
Background The burden of Legionnaires’ disease (LD) in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) has increased during the last decade, with notification rates increasing from 1.2 to 1.4/100,000 population in 2012–16, to 1.8–2.2 within 2017–19. Aim To measure weekly excess cases during 2017–19 based on previous trends and determine whether a significant change in trend occurred, and to examine any differences in age, sex or level of imported infections. Methods We collated 2012–19 annual surveillance data from The European Surveillance System (TESSy) reported by EU/EEA countries. A retrospective prediction by a dynamic regression model was created from 2012–16 data to assess excess cases in 2017–19. Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was performed to determine if a significant change in trend occurred in 2017–19 compared with the previous 5 years. Results We found a 33.9% increase in cases in 2017–19 compared with the number predicted. The ITS also found a significant trend increase in 2017–19 compared with 2012–16. A significant trend increase was observed from 2017 most strongly among older age groups (> 60 years) and non-imported cases. Conclusion Our study showed a significant increasing trend in LD cases in the EU/EEA during 2017–19 compared with the previous 5 years. The distribution of cases per week suggests an overall amplification of the seasonal trends. These findings underscore that LD continues to be an infectious disease of public health concern in the EU/EEA, warranting further research into determinants of the increase.
Background European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries annually report hepatitis A (HepA) notifications to The European Surveillance System (TESSy). Aim To describe EU/EEA HepA notifications from 2010 to 2019 and identify infection drivers and surveillance improvements. Methods We analysed demographic, clinical and transmission information of HepA confirmed cases from TESSy. We stratified countries by population susceptibility profile and performed time-series analysis to describe trends in notification rates, sex distribution and travel history. Results Twenty-nine EU/EEA countries reported 139,793 HepA cases. Six eastern EU countries reported > 60% of these cases. EU/EEA notification rate during the study period was 3.2 cases per 100,000 population (range 2.7–5.6). Notifications peaked in 2014 and 2017, with marked differences in case demographic characteristics. Notification trends varied across different country susceptibility groups. In 2017, the proportion of males (74%) and case median age (31 years) increased steeply, while no changes occurred in 2014. Travel history showed seasonal case peaks following the summer. More than 47,000 hospitalisations were reported. Annual case fatality was < 0.2% for all years. Information on travel history, hospitalisation, death and mode of transmission was suboptimal. Discussion Apart from some countries in its east, the EU/EEA is characterised by low HepA incidence baseline and susceptible to recurrent large cross-border outbreaks. Analysis of European surveillance data highlighted the need for stronger prevention policies for eastern EU countries, men who have sex with men and travellers. Improving surveillance data-quality will enhance knowledge on food-borne, and travel-related exposures to inform more effective and tailored regional prevention policies.
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