Monkeypox (MPX) is a zoonotic disease and is currently the most prevalent orthopoxviral infection in humans after the eradication of smallpox and the cessation of universal smallpox vaccination. In endemic areas, monkeypox virus (MPXV) probably circulates among a number of mammals, although there is no known reservoir. Occasional spill-over events to humans generate outbreaks. MPXV […]
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COVID-19 development in Asia and Oceania
This news item shows updated data, obtained from various official sources (Johns Hopkins University, Reuters, WHO…), concerning the incidence of diagnosed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Asia. Countries with the highest average incidence of diagnoses in the last 7 days According to data provided by Johns Hopkins University, as of November 22, the total […]
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HERA signs Joint Procurement contract COVID-19 treatments
The Commission’s Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has signed a joint procurement Framework Contract for the supply of Paxlovid, a SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor oral treatment for patients with COVID-19 at risk of developing severe disease. The contract is signed with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer and will run for an initial period of 12 months. Thirteen […]
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COVID-19 evolution in Europe
The following news item shows updated data, obtained from various official sources (Johns Hopkins University, Reuters, WHO…), concerning the incidence of diagnosed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Europe. Countries with the highest average incidence of diagnosed in the last 7 days According to data provided by Johns Hopkins University, as of November 21, the […]
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HERA secures up to 2 million doses of the monkeypox vaccine
The Commission’s Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), has signed a Joint Procurement Framework contract with the company Bavarian Nordic, for the supply of up to 2 million doses of the monkeypox vaccine in the course of 2023 and 2024. This offers 14 participating countries the possibility to purchase doses to address their medium- and […]
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Data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR): use of antibiotics in the EU decreases but more needs to be done
On the eve of European Antibiotics Awareness Day (EAAD), a pan-European survey on antimicrobial resistance shows that half of Europeans still incorrectly believe that antibiotics kill viruses. At the same time, 23 % of respondents have taken antibiotics over the past year, the lowest figure since 2009 and clearly showing that the work of Member States […]
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European Health Union: building a stronger EU health response
Today, the Council has adopted the final building blocks of the European Health Union: the Regulation on Serious cross-border health threats, the Regulation on the extended mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Emergency Framework Regulation to provide extra powers to the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). These new rules complete […]
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High monkeypox vaccine acceptance among male users of smartphone-based online gay-dating apps in Europe
Male adult users of smartphone-based online gay dating apps in the European region have high acceptance of monkeypox (MPX) vaccination. At the same time, there are specific groups with a high degree of vaccine hesitancy to whom campaigns should be tailored. Here, public health providers together with community-based organisations play an important role. This is […]
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New Omicron sub-lineage likely to cause further increase in covid-19 cases
At least five EU/EEA countries have detected the circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 variant sub-lineage BQ.1 during week 40, 2022. ECDC modelling forecasts predict that BQ1 and its sub-lineage BQ1.1 will become the dominant SARS-CoV2 strains in EU/EEA by mid-November to the beginning of December 2022. This will likely contribute to an increase in the number […]
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