Investment to boost production capacity in Europe and increase autonomy “Buy European” to support production Promoting joint public procurement between Member States Drug shortages are often due to production difficulties The regulation will cover antibiotics, insulin, vaccines and medicines for chronic diseases Parliament adopted proposals to improve the availability and supply of essential medicines in […]
Autumn vaccination campaigns targeting the elderly and other high-risk groups will be key to reducing the impact of COVID-19
According to ECDC surveillance data, with every new wave of COVID-19 infection, individuals in older age groups are more likely to be hospitalised. Data suggest persisting SARS-CoV-2 transmission in EU/EEA countries and therefore, a continuous risk of severe disease for vulnerable groups. Although no clear seasonal pattern of virus circulation has emerged so far, data […]
Evolution of monkeypox in Europe
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 […]
Monkeypox: Commission purchases treatment courses
The Commission has secured over 10,000 treatment courses of tecovirimat to treat Monkeypox. This emergency procurement is funded by the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) and channelled via rescEU to treat patients in Member States with immediate needs. Tecovirimat is produced by the pharmaceutical company Meridian/SIGA. Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “Today, with our […]
New agreement to recognise COVID-19 as an occupational disease
On 18th May, Member States, workers and employers in the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) reached an agreement on the need to recognise COVID-19 as an occupational disease in health and social care and in domiciliary assistance and, in a pandemic context, in sectors where there is an outbreak in […]
HORIZON EUROPE: Fast deployed mobile laboratories to enhance situational awareness for pandemics and emerging infectious diseases
Expected Outcome: Projects’ results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following outcomes: Inventory and comparison of existing mobile laboratories, including heavy structures (both military and civilian) and light self-sustained systems, evaluation of quality management systems for maintenance, validation and testing. New (mobile laboratory) solutions for the fast, reliable and unambiguous detection […]
SARS-CoV-2 in mink: recommendations to improve monitoring
Early detection of SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) should be a priority objective for monitoring activities at mink farms in the European Union, a new report recommends. The report, compiled by EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), proposes options for monitoring strategies that will help to prevent and control spread of the disease. It concludes […]
Outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Africa
As of 14 February 2021, four cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), including two deaths, have been reported in the North Kivu province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as well as seven cases in Guinea, including three deaths. On 7 February 2021, the Minister of Health of the […]