Latest news with #PamelaRendi-Wagner
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles cases on the up in Europe. Where are the highest and the lowest numbers?
Measles cases in Europe have seen almost a tenfold increase over the past year. In March 2025, there were 1,097 reported cases, of which 809 were confirmed to be measles infections, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Romania recorded the highest number of measles cases in the EU, with 397 people with the disease. This was followed by France with 161 reported confirmed cases, the Netherlands (95), and Italy (60). On the other hand, at least nine EU countries did not report a single case of measles. France was the only country reporting one death due to measles in March 2025. In 2024, the European Union and the European Economic Area diagnosed more than 35,000 people with measles, and 23 people died of the disease. More than a quarter of people diagnosed with measles in 2024 were over 14 years old. Measles is among the world's most infectious diseases and is spread by an airborne virus. Typically, it infects the respiratory system and causes symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose and a rash. In serious cases, measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, dehydration and blindness. March 2024 recorded the peak with almost 3,967 cases between 2020 and 2025. To prevent measles outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations, at least 95% of the population eligible for vaccination should receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Only Hungary, Malta, Slovakia and Portugal registered the necessary coverage of both doses. The rest of the vaccination levels in Europe still fall short of this target. "Every vaccine dose counts, and timing matters for optimal protection," says Pamela Rendi-Wagner, director of ECDC.
Euronews
05-05-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Measles cases on the up in Europe. Where are the highest and the lowest numbers?
ADVERTISEMENT Measles cases in Europe have seen almost a tenfold increase over the past year. In March 2025, there were 1,097 reported cases, of which 809 were confirmed to be measles infections, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Romania recorded the highest number of measles cases in the EU, with 397 people with the disease. This was followed by France with 161 reported confirmed cases, the Netherlands (95), and Italy (60). On the other hand, at least nine EU countries did not report a single case of measles. France was the only country reporting one death due to measles in March 2025. In 2024, the European Union and the European Economic Area diagnosed more than 35,000 people with measles, and 23 people died of the disease. More than a quarter of people diagnosed with measles in 2024 were over 14 years old. Measles is among the world's most infectious diseases and is spread by an airborne virus. Typically, it infects the respiratory system and causes symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose and a rash. In serious cases, measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, dehydration and blindness. March 2024 recorded the peak with almost 3,967 cases between 2020 and 2025. To prevent measles outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations, at least 95% of the population eligible for vaccination should receive two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Only Hungary, Malta, Slovakia and Portugal registered the necessary coverage of both doses. The rest of the vaccination levels in Europe still fall short of this target. ADVERTISEMENT "Every vaccine dose counts, and timing matters for optimal protection," says Pamela Rendi-Wagner, director of ECDC.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
EU Agency: Interim targets in fight against HIV and hepatitis missed
Hepatitis, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and gonorrhoea continue to pose significant challenges for health systems in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) concluded. Although these diseases are preventable, they reportedly lead to numerous cases of illness and nearly 57,000 deaths annually in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA). The United Nations aims to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages" by 2030 as one of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs); The elimination of the AIDS and TB epidemics as well as the fight against viral hepatitis are sub-goals to that. The EU health authority based in Stockholm has now examined to what extent European countries have achieved their interim targets set for 2025 on the way to these goals. The new ECDC report shows that most countries are either at risk of not reaching the targets by 2030 or lack sufficient data to measure their progress. ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said: "These diseases are preventable, as is the burden they place on health systems, patients and their families. We have five years to act; we must make them count." According to the ECDC report, the estimated incidence of HIV and TB has decreased during the study period but remains above the target value for 2025. For viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, there are no incidence figures, but the number of diagnoses of gonorrhoea, syphilis and acute hepatitis B has reportedly increased in many EU and EEA countries. The most significant increase was in newly reported gonorrhoea cases: Their number is the highest since 2009. In the area of disease prevention, progress has been made, but here too, the target specifications for 2025 have reportedly been missed according to the ECDC. Particularly effective prevention measures include the use of condoms, programmes that allow the exchange of old syringes for new ones, hepatitis B vaccinations and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which is intended to protect people at increased risk of infection from contracting HIV.
Euronews
23-04-2025
- Health
- Euronews
European countries are falling short on fight against HIV, TB and STIs, health authorities warn
ADVERTISEMENT Europe will miss its targets to combat HIV, tuberculosis (TB) , hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) without significant investments in public health, regional health authorities have warned. These four diseases cause nearly 57,000 deaths every year in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, according to the new report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). But many countries are not on track to meet official goals to eliminate infectious disease epidemics by 2030, and the region has not met most of these targets for 2025. Related Health authorities push for 'urgent' action as some STIs reach new highs in Europe "These diseases are preventable, as is the burden they place on health systems, patients, and their families," ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said in a statement. Some progress has been made. The number of new HIV infections has fallen by 35 per cent since 2010, and TB incidence has decreased by 35 per cent since 2015 – though the region's goals were a respective 75 per cent and 50 per cent reduction by 2025. STIs reaching record levels The number of deaths from AIDS-related causes has fallen by 30 per cent since 2010, with 3,300 deaths in 2023. But health officials had wanted to cut that figure in half. Deaths from hepatitis B and C remain high, and cases of acute hepatitis B are rising. The infections spread through sexual contact or when drug users share contaminated syringes, and can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. Meanwhile, rates of STIs such as syphilis and gonorrhoea are reaching record levels . Authorities now detect almost all new and relapsed TB cases, but drug resistance and treatment remain challenging. In 2022, just 68 per cent of people who started TB treatment actually completed it, falling short of the region's 90 per cent target. Related Why is tuberculosis, the world's deadliest infectious disease, on the rise in the UK? The ECDC called for additional efforts to prevent these diseases, for example improving uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV infection, increasing vaccinations for hepatitis B, and getting people to use condoms . The agency also wants countries to expand testing services to try to detect infections earlier on, shore up data collection, and take steps to help people with diseases like TB – for which they must take daily pills for four to nine months – stay on their treatment. "We have five years to act; we must make them count," Rendi-Wagner said.
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) discuss deeper collaboration for global health security
ECDC Director Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner and H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention met at ECDC's offices in Stockholm to discuss deepening collaboration between the two CDCs. The meeting was an opportunity for ECDC and Africa CDC to take stock of ongoing areas of cooperation and look ahead to future efforts to enhance African, European and global health security. Since 2021, both agencies partner on a project, funded by the European Commission, to contribute to health security in Africa and globally by strengthening emergency preparedness and response, surveillance, epidemic intelligence, and workforce capacity-building. 'Close cooperation between ECDC and Africa CDC is essential for global health security. I look forward to even deeper collaboration moving forward and to working together towards global health security preparedness and response to confront future health threats. This work has already begun though ECDC's contributions to Africa CDC led outbreak responses through our EU Health Task Force,' said Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Director of ECDC. In recognition of the evolving health threat landscape, Africa CDC and ECDC will collaborate on One Health workforce development through a Team Europe Initiative. Adopting a One Health approach is essential to combatting the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance – a significant threat to health and the functioning of health services on both continents. 'Africa CDC values its strong collaboration with ECDC in advancing global health security. Through the Africa CDC–ECDC Partnership, we committed to strengthen Africa's emergency preparedness, disease surveillance, and public health workforce. This visit reaffirms our commitment to expanding joint training, epidemic intelligence, and technical exchanges to equip our Member States with the needed support to tackle emerging health threats. Under the Africa-EU Global Gateway Partnership on Health, we remain dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and co-creating solutions for a healthier Africa and beyond,' said H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa CDC. ECDC's strengthened mandate has enabled the Agency to expand its international cooperation. The establishment of the EU Health Task Force has meant ECDC experts deployed in Africa ten times in 2024 to support local outbreak responses to mpox, Marburg and cholera. In addition to their shared commitment to global health security and future technical collaboration, discussions focussed on outbreaks on the African continent as well as the concrete actions they are both taking to rebuild public trust in health authorities following the COVID-19 pandemic. ECDC collaborates with centres for disease control beyond the EU at both regional and national levels as part of its long-term strategy to enhance international cooperation and coordination in addressing cross-border health threats. ECDC collaborates with the African, Caribbean, and Gulf supranational CDCs and has previously signed memoranda of understanding or administrative agreements with national centres around the world. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
