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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
@ecdc.europa.eu
We’re the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. We aim to strengthen EU’s defences vs infectious diseases. Here to promote public health.
The ECDC Lighthouse is a community of practice of people working or interested in social and behavioural sciences.

Not a member yet? Sign up here: lighthouse.ecdc.europa.eu
January 8, 2026 at 9:17 AM
How are farmers’ thoughts and feelings related to preventing an avian influenza pandemic? How do they influence preventive behaviours?

Join the ECDC Lighthouse webinar on 3 February, at 13.00-14.00 CET to learn more.

Register here: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/91bbbe...

#EpiSky #IDSky
January 8, 2026 at 9:17 AM
From all of us at European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) - sending warm wishes to our partners, colleagues and followers across Europe and beyond.

May your holidays be safe, restful and your year ahead a healthy one ❤️ 🎅

#ECDC #PublicHealth #SafeHolidays
December 24, 2025 at 11:47 AM
💡 ECDC has also previously provided advice on the current flu season in light of the new K subclade:

www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publicati...
Threat Assessment Brief: Assessing the risk of influenza for the EU/EEA in the context of increasing circulation of A(H3N2) subclade K
Circulating respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, all contribute to pressure on healthcare systems during winter in the EU/EEA.
www.ecdc.europa.eu
December 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM
🤧 The 2025/26 flu season has begun earlier than the previous two seasons, driven by the recently-emerged influenza virus A(H3N2) subclade K.

An ECDC study estimated early seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness across the EU/EEA.

Learn more: www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...

#EpiSky #IDSky
Early estimates of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness against influenza requiring medical attention at primary care level in Europe, week 41 - 49, 2025
The 2025/26 influenza season has begun earlier than the previous two seasons, driven by the recently-emerged influenza virus A(H3N2) subclade K.
www.ecdc.europa.eu
December 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Hi Tatiana, four out of the six preventative measures we suggest relate to airborne transmission. These are all important and not mutually exclusive. Have a great weekend!
December 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
🚨 Remember! 🚨

Preventive measures can help reduce transmission and protect those at high risk. Measures include:

💪 vaccination
🙌 frequent handwashing
↔️ maintaining physical distance
👥 avoiding large gatherings
💨 proper ventilation
😷 wearing masks in healthcare settings

More on erviss.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Weekly respiratory viruses update:

- #RespiratoryViruses are on the rise across EU/EEA
- #influenza activity is increasing rapidly and circulating widely
- increases in #RSV have levelled off
- #SARS-CoV-2 circulation continues to decrease.

More info: erviss.org
#ERVISS #IDsky #EpiSky #COVID19
December 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
STIs are a major public health concern in Europe, and the number of reported infections have been increasing over the past few years.

ECDC is calling for an update of national strategies, the removal of barriers to testing, and the strengthening of data collection.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4sp...
STIs in Europe: a problem hiding under the duvet | #SafeSex
YouTube video by ECDC
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
As STIs continue to surge across the EU/EEA, ECDC reports that significant barriers to preventative measures and testing, and a lack of data are hindering efforts to curb STIs.

Learn more: www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...

#EpiSky #IDSky
December 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
EURLs support national reference laboratories in improving diagnostics, testing methods, and surveillance of serious cross-border health threats.

ECDC is responsible for establishing, operating, and coordinating the network of EURLs.

Learn more: www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/microbiol...
EU Reference Laboratories for public health
The European Commission designates EU Reference Laboratories (EURLs) in public health to support national reference laboratories in improving diagnostics, testing methods, and surveillance of serious ...
www.ecdc.europa.eu
December 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The European Commission (@ec.europa.eu) has just designated a new EU reference laboratory (EURL) for respiratory viruses.

This marks a significant step in reinforcing the European Union’s capacity to respond to serious cross-border threats.

Read more: www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...
New EU reference laboratory for respiratory viruses designated
The European Commission has adopted an Implementing Regulation establishing a new EU reference laboratory (EURL) for public health for respiratory viruses. This marks a significant step in reinforcing...
www.ecdc.europa.eu
December 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
What’s behind foodborne illnesses in Europe?

A new infographic from EFSA & @ecdc.europa.eu highlights key findings from the One Health Zoonoses Report:

✔ What foodborne diseases are
✔ Where they come from
✔ How to help prevent them

👉 link.europa.eu/3Jwjvq

#OneHealth #Zoonoses #FoodPoisoning
Foodborne diseases in Europe: What’s really making you sick?
Foodborne diseases in Europe: What’s really making you sick?
link.europa.eu
December 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The study was conducted through our Respiratory Diseases Scenario Modelling Hub, RespiCompass.

RespiCompass worked with several international modelling teams to conduct this analysis, combining their models to simulate different scenarios.

Access RespiCompass: respicompass.ecdc.europa.eu
December 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
💉 Between 5 August 2024 and 1 June 2025, vaccination programmes in EU/EEA countries were projected to have:

🔷 Prevented 26–41% of flu-related hospitalisations among adults aged 65 and over;

🔷 Reduced COVID-19 hospitalisations in the same age group by 14–20%.
December 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
#JustPublished: A new modelling study from ECDC indicates that influenza and COVID-19 vaccination programmes markedly reduced hospitalisations among older adults across Europe in the 2024/25 season.

Learn more: www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...

#EpiSky #IDSky
New analysis indicates that vaccines greatly reduce hospitalisations for flu and COVID-19
A new modelling study from RespiCompass, the European respiratory disease modelling hub coordinated by ECDC, indicates that influenza and COVID-19 vaccination programmes markedly reduced hospitalisati...
www.ecdc.europa.eu
December 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
🚨 Remember! 🚨

Preventive measures, such as:
💪 vaccination
🙌 frequent handwashing
↔️ maintaining physical distance
👥 avoiding large gatherings
💨 proper ventilation
😷 wearing masks in healthcare settings

can help reduce transmission & protect those at high risk.
More on erviss.org & ecdc.europa.eu
December 15, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Weekly respiratory viruses update:

- #influenza activity is increasing rapidly and circulating widely,
- #RSV is slowly increasing,
- #SARSCoV2 circulation continues to decrease.

More info: erviss.org
#ERVISS #RespiratoryViruses #IDsky #EpiSky #COVID19
December 15, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Reposted by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
📢 Our latest quarterly monitoring report on #AvianFlu with @ecdc.europa.eu & the EU Reference Lab is out:

✅ Wild bird HPAI cases highest since 2016
✅ Widespread farm outbreaks via wild birds
✅ Slight rise in carnivores + virus back in cats

Public risk remains low.

lnkd.in/d-G2gNBZ

#h5n1
Avian influenza: new outbreaks expected in Europe until winter ends
Between 6 September and 28 November 2025, 442 outbreaks of HPAI were reported in domestic birds and 2,454 outbreaks in wild birds across 29 European countries, according to the latest quarterly report...
link.europa.eu
December 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
📢 Last joint monthly update with @ecdc.europa.eu on #WestNileVirus in Europe is live.

👤 1,112 human cases, 97 deaths (14 countries)
🐎 186 outbreaks in equids (9 countries)
🐦 359 outbreaks in birds (9 countries)

No local cases expected, but a few sporadic cases may occur.

🔗 link.europa.eu/fNP38x
December 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The Centre is proposing to:

🔷 establish a European WBS network
🔷 provide support activities
🔷 organise consultations and ECDC expert assessments to identify candidate pathogens and related health issues for routine WBS
🔷 support data integration
🔷 assess database and reporting options
December 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
#JustPublished: ECDC is announcing it will take a leading role in the consolidation and integration at the EU/EEA level of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) as a complementary infectious disease surveillance tool.

Learn more: www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...

#IDSky #EpiSky
December 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
They also bust persistent myths - including “if food smells fine, it’s safe” and “freezing kills bacteria”. (Both myths firmly put to rest.)

The episode is a clear, practical intro to the report - and yes, it finally settles the long-running “wash the chicken?” debate.

#Epidemiology #FoodSafety
December 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Aine Collins - @ecdc.europa.eu & Giusi Amore - @efsa.europa.eu explain:

• how eggs, chicken, vegetables & ready-to-eat products can become contaminated long before reaching kitchens

• why #Campylobacter & #Salmonella are so common

• how their impact differs from invasive #listeriosis

📺 YouTube ⬇️
ECDC: on Air - Episode 69 - A. Collins & G. Amore - Foodborne diseases: What’s making you sick?
YouTube video by ECDC
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM