Latest news with #EuropeanCentreforDiseasePreventionandControl
Euractiv
18 hours ago
- Health
- Euractiv
EU's graphic holiday guide to sex is full of holes
The EU's new guide on how to stay sexually healthy during the holiday season isn't for everyone. Published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the EU's public health agency, the online guide offers explicit advice aimed primarily at men who have sex with men. It includes foremost tips on how to avoid infections that spread among men who have sex with men, such as mpox and Shigella – and recommends that those engaging in such practices "not share sex toys" and "use disposable gloves for fingering or fisting". Noticeably absent is detailed guidance for the population at large and their sexual health needs. Chlamydia, for example, is mentioned only once in a list with gonorrhoea and syphilis despite being Europe's most reported sexually transmitted bacterial infection. Though it frequently goes undetected due to its lack of symptoms, it can lead to serious complications like infertility, disproportionately affecting women. Carsten Müller, a prominent German sex educator, said the guide, which urges 'everyone to be informed', risks leaving much of the population underserved. 'If we focus on sex between men, it leaves a lot of room for discrimination. And as soon as the topic turns to mpox, anyone who isn't a man who has sex with men immediately starts to feel defensive, saying, 'That doesn't affect me,'' he added. 'Highway to hell' Leaving chlamydia and other mainstream infections largely unaddressed is difficult to overlook, especially in light of ECDC data showing a general rise in STI cases across Europe. Gonorrhoea cases, for instance, increased by 321% between 2014 and 2023. While MSM accounted for 58% of them, infection rates among young women aged 20–24 hit 72 per 100,000 – a high figure given the rate for all men that stands at 131 per 100,000. Yet the ECDC's summer guide offers little practical information for a general audience beyond the standard call for 'consistent condom use for vaginal, anal, and oral sex'. For example, the recommendation to use dental dams focuses exclusively on "oral-anal sex', with no mention of their use during oral sex between female partners or heterosexual sex. For those seeking more comprehensive or practical advice – such as how to adapt a condom for protection during oral sex – resources like the website of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be more helpful. Müller added that the ECDC's focus reflects a broader problem in European sex education: It's primarily directed at young people, even as STI rates rise among older adults. Genital herpes – an incurable infection that ranks among the most common STIs globally – is not mentioned at all, even though, according to the WHO, someone is infected with the virus every second. When asked by Euractiv why herpes was omitted, an ECDC spokesperson answered: 'Herpes is not a notifiable disease (as per decision by the European Commission), therefore this is not a disease that the ECDC actively monitors.' The spokesperson referred those seeking guidance to the WHO's website. What about HPV? Human Papillomavirus (HPV) was also absent from the summer guide, despite several strains of the virus being linked to cervical, penile, throat, and other cancers. When asked about this by Euractiv at an event on the topic, an ECDC expert who had just presented on HPV vaccination and screening struggled to offer practical advice. Before the ECDC expert could find an answer, Dr. Rui Medeiros, head of education at the Portuguese League Against Cancer, stepped in with a blunt assessment: 'Ultimately, every act is at your own risk. It's like crossing a red light – you might get away with it, or you might not.' For Müller, the ECDC's call for 'fostering open communication' is also vague, noting that "we need to help people talk about sex and the risks that come with it'. He suggests including practical conversation starters in the guide, such as: 'I feel like having sex with you – let's talk about how to make it safe' – a line that would not be too difficult to translate into all 24 official EU languages (or very effective at a beachside bar). (de, vib, jp, mk)
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Could chikungunya virus spread in the Bay Area? Here's what to know
An outbreak of chikungunya virus this summer has sickened more than 7,000 people in southern China, particularly in the city of Foshan. The virus is spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which also transmit dengue and Zika viruses. These invasive mosquitos have expanded worldwide, including to California. Experts say that there's a low chance of chikungunya-infected mosquitoes spreading the virus to people in California, also known as local transmission. But it's not impossible — especially as climate change makes more of the state amenable to Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. 'Global warming has enabled the spread of both of these mosquito species into new areas,' said Lark Coffey, a professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology at UC Davis, by email. Chikungunya virus typically causes mild symptoms, including fever and joint pain. But in some cases, this joint pain can be severe and persist for months. Through July, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported approximately 240,000 chikungunya cases and 90 chikungunya-related deaths worldwide in 2025. The virus' most likely path into California is via an infected traveler returning from an area with chikungunya virus transmission, Coffey said. U.S. health officials have issued a travel health notice for parts of China due to the chikungunya outbreak. All previously reported cases of chikungunya in California, including two this year as of July 1, have been associated with travel. But that hasn't been the case for dengue virus, which is spread by the same mosquitos. 'We have seen local transmission of dengue in California in the last couple years. Which, to me, implies that there's no reason we couldn't also have local transmission of chikungunya,' said Erin Mordecai, an associate professor of biology at Stanford University and a senior fellow in the Woods Institute of the Environment. 'The more chikugunya cases there are, the more likely it is.' Local transmission would involve multiple steps: an Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito biting a chikungunya-infected person, chikungunya virus incubating in the insect and then the mosquito going out and biting more people. The Bay Area may generally be a little too cool for transmission to readily occur. 'Temperature affects the entire life cycle of the mosquito and the virus,' Mordecai said. The cases of local dengue transmission occurred in the warmer climes of Southern California in 2023 and 2024. But climate change has made California warmer, and scientists expect the state to continue getting even warmer in the future. 'We expect mosquito development to increase (and) mosquito survival to increase,' said Lisa Couper, a disease ecologist and postdoctoral research fellow at UC Berkeley. An additional consideration is urbanization, as Aedes aegypti is 'really well-adapted to urban systems,' said Andy MacDonald, a disease ecologist and assistant professor in UC Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. 'It prefers breeding in, say, a small amount of water and some trash that's been discarded on the street.' In ongoing work, Couper and MacDonald have found that climate warming and urban expansion have increased the risk of local dengue transmission in California. 'We would expect these same factors to promote the suitability of chikugunya transmission,' Couper said. In the Bay Area, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are present in Santa Clara and Solano counties. 'While there have been no local transmissions of chikungunya occurring in (Santa Clara) County as of now, the possibility remains, which is why we ask for the public's help in stopping this mosquito from spreading,' said Taylor Kelly, scientific technical services manager with the Santa Clara County Mosquito and Vector Control District, by email. That includes reporting black and white striped mosquitos, as well as mosquito bites that occur during the daytime. Experts also recommend using mosquito repellent and dumping standing water.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
EU agencies seek to combat viral hepatitis in European prisons
EU agencies for disease prevention and drugs have together launched a toolkit to support efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis in Europe's prisons. The initiative by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Drugs Agency, supports the World Health Organisation's target to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Published ahead of Prisoners' Justice Day (10 August), the guide aims to support hepatitis B and C prevention and care in prisons across Europe. It is primarily intended for professionals working in prison healthcare services and provides information on how to set up interventions to prevent and control viral hepatitis in these settings. The number of prisoners in the EU was around 499,000 in 2023, equivalent to 111 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the European Commission, representing a 3.2% increase compared with 2022. In the EU, hepatitis B and C prevalence is highest among certain populations, including migrants, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, sex workers, and people in prison. This makes prisons a high-risk environment for hepatitis B and C transmission, as prison populations and people who inject drugs often overlap, according to the agencies. 'Incarceration and drug use are therefore intertwined and lead to increased risks of infection with communicable diseases,' the toolkit notes. The scarcity of access to clean injecting equipment in most prison settings further increases the risk, not only for drug use but also for tattoos and body piercings. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are major causes of cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver transplantation, and liver related deaths. The WHO estimates that 10.6 million people in Europe are living with chronic hepatitis B, and 8.6 million with chronic hepatitis C, the majority of whom remain undiagnosed. Both agencies highlight the unique challenges of addressing this issue in the prison context — including insufficient resources, lack of training, and underdeveloped public health surveillance and monitoring systems — all of which can hinder the implementation of recommendations. They also stress the need to tackle these infections not only to improve individual health outcomes for prisoners but also to reduce transmission within prisons and in the wider community upon release.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Holiday hotspots report cases of organ destroying virus sparking global outbreak fears in China
Since early 2025, this viral wave has crossed continents, with 250,000 cases and 90 deaths recorded across 16 countries this year SOME favourite holiday destinations for Brits are now hotspots for a crippling mosquito-borne virus, new figures reveal. Chikungunya, which is rarely deadly but capable of wreaking havoc on organs and causing agonising, months-long pain and disability, is exploding worldwide. Advertisement 4 Chikungunya is spread by infected mosquitoes Credit: Getty 4 An outbreak of chikungunya in China has sparked alarm Credit: Getty Just last month The World Health Organisation warned chikungunya could soon affect billions across the globe as it tears through parts of the Indian Ocean and edges closer to Europe. The health watchdog said it was seeing the same warning signs as in the last major outbreak two decades ago, when nearly half a million were infected worldwide. More than 7,000 people have been struck down by the mosquito-borne bug in China alone, marking the country's biggest ever outbreak of the disease, according to experts. Most cases have been reported in the city of Foshan, in the southern province of Guangdong. Advertisement In recent days, cases have cropped up in neighbouring areas and countries, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, according to media reports, this is despite China imposing Covid-like measures to contain the virus. Since early 2025, this viral wave has crossed continents, with 250,000 cases and 90 deaths recorded across 16 countries this year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). And while the UK remains free of risk for now, parts of France and Italy - both very popular with Brits, are already battling the virus. There have been 12 local transmission episodes in several regions of southern France within the last year - meaning people were infected by mosquitoes in Europe, not while travelling. Advertisement While this sounds concerning, experts have fortunately said it isn't going to be the next pandemic. Professor Will Irving, a virology expert at the University of Nottingham said: "There have been equally large, if not larger outbreaks around the world prior to this one." What is Chikungunya However, he added: "With climate change, the mosquitos are spreading, and there are reports of the mosquito being present in parts of Europe (France, Italy, Spain).' Last year, Europe saw a sharp surge in mosquito-borne diseases - including dengue, West Nile, and malaria - with some infections doubling in just 12 months. Advertisement Chikungunya is primarily spread by the Aedes mosquito (also known as the tiger mosquito) and cannot spread from person to person. But a mosquito can pick up the disease by feeding on an infected individual and then transmit it to new human hosts by biting them. Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitoes, these critters are most active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. 4 The symptoms can last for months - even years Advertisement 4 Patient with joint deformities of the hands 6 years after confirmed chikungunya virusCredit: SehatHub How to stay safe Several experts have shared precautionary steps those travelling the sunny beaches of Europe can take to prevent infection. Professor Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, advised travellers to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs. Ideally, he said: "They will be light coloured, so you can see if mosquitos have landed on you." Advertisement In particular, he warned that it is a bad idea for women in late stages of pregnancy to travel to these destinations. "If you get infected with it later on in the pregnancy, it can pose a risk to the baby," he said. Two chikungunya vaccines have recently been approved for use in the UK - although one is under safety review for older people. Those are mostly targeted at travellers and are not widely available in the countries most affected by chikungunya. Advertisement Once someone has recovered from chikungunya, there is evidence to suggest they have lifelong immunity. In 2024, there were 112 confirmed and probable cases of chikungunya, all linked to people returning from popular destinations like India, Pakistan and Brazil. Once mostly confined to Asia, Africa, and South America, the virus is now expanding its reach across Europe and the US, with local outbreaks on the rise. It has surged in places like Madagascar, the Seychelles, Somalia, Kenya, India, and Brazil. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Pacific Islands are also grappling with rising outbreaks in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji, and Kiribati. The US has recorded 46 cases this year, all in travellers returning from high-risk regions, with no deaths reported so far. Crippling joint pain While chikungunya very rarely causes death, its symptoms are debilitating. They usually begin within a week of being bitten and can include a sudden high fever, fatigue, nausea, reddening of the eyes, sensitivity to light and a rash. Advertisement The virus gets its name from a word in the Kimakonde language spoken in southern Tanzania meaning 'to become contorted,' to the crippling joint pain it causes. The virus triggers an immune response that leads to inflammation in the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness similar to rheumatoid arthritis that can persist for weeks, months and sometimes years after the initial infection. Advertisement Those most at risk of severe illness include newborn babies, older adults, and people with underlying conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
Euronews
5 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
What we know about the West Nile virus spreading in Europe
Ten people have died of West Nile virus in Italy this year, with cases of the mosquito-borne illness also reported in other parts of Europe. As summer heats up, health authorities have warned Europeans to take steps to prevent themselves from being infected with the West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, including chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. But what exactly do we know about the West Nile virus? Where does the virus come from? Spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes, the West Nile virus infects both humans and birds. But in very rare cases, it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, and breast milk. Its name dates back to 1937, when it first appeared in the West Nile region of Uganda. It was introduced to the United States in 1999, and has since become widely established across the globe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Today, it is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and west Asia. West Nile virus often spreads from mid summer to early autumn in regions with warmer weather. Research has shown that climate change is accelerating the spread of mosquito-borne viruses in Europe. In addition to Italy, infections have been reported in Bulgaria, France, Greece, and Romania this year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The virus was also detected in mosquitoes in the United Kingdom for the first time earlier this year. What are the symptoms of West Nile virus? Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. But about one in five people will develop West Nile fiver, which causes body aches, headaches, vomiting, fatigue, rashes, and swollen lymph glands. Around one in 150 infected people develop a more serious form of the disease that can cause neurological complications, coma, tremours, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Serious illness can occur in people of any age, however people over the age of 50 and some immunocompromised persons (for example, transplant patients) are at the highest risk for getting severely ill when infected with WNV. People with compromised immune systems and those over the age of 50 are at higher risk of these complications. In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause fatal neurological disease. What is recovery like? There is no vaccine or specific treatment for people with Nest Nile virus. Rest, fluids, and pain medications can help alleviate some symptoms. Patients with a neuro-invasive illness are usually hospitalised and given intravenous fluids and respiratory support while they recover, the WHO said. Once infected, people are believed to be protected against the virus for life. Beyond treatment, public health authorities are focused on preventing people from infection in the first place. These efforts rely heavily on local mosquito control programmes and personal protection. Authorities recommend that people use insect spray and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers to keep themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes.
