Urban social and environmental factors appear to have a significant impact on how well the population is doing. At the EU level in 2021, 43% of city-dwelling adults 65 and older reported having a very or very good health status, which was 2 percentage points (pp) higher than the national average for all individuals 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 […]
What is the EU Food Safety Strategy?
Creating a sustainable food system is one of the EU’s goals, while ensuring that the food on the tables of all countries is healthy and safe. The European institutions care about what their citizens eat and want to make sure that all food is good for them and reasonably priced. This is the EU Food […]
Chemicals top European Commission’s list of non-food products hazardous to health
The European Commission has released its annual report on the Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for hazardous non-food products. The report covers alerts issued in 2022, as well as the responses provided by national authorities. Health risks associated with chemical substances were the most frequently reported type of risk, which was also found […]
February 4: World Cancer Day
Since 2000, World Cancer Day has been celebrated on February 4 with the aim of raising awareness and promoting measures to combat this disease, which affects millions of people in the EU. Cancer research and innovation is one of the European Union’s top health priorities. No one is spared the possibility of cancer, regardless of […]
A new EU Health security framework is in motion
On December 25, the building blocks of the European Health Union are officially in place. This not only includes stronger EU rules on serious cross-border threats to health, but also a stronger mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and a new Emergency Framework for medical countermeasures. Taken together with an […]
EU-UK relations: Commission extends arrangements for veterinary medicines to 2025
The European Commission has today adopted a notice which extends to 31 December 2025 the current arrangements for the movement of veterinary medicines from Great Britain to Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Northern Ireland. This will ensure the continuity of supplies of veterinary medicinal products, in particular to Northern Ireland. The Commission recognises the key importance of veterinary […]
European Health Union: new approach on cancer screening
Following the Commission’s proposal to strengthen cancer prevention through early detection, the Council of the European Union has adopted a new approach on cancer screening. This is an important step to improve early detection throughout the EU, an important goal of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. As announced in September, this new EU approach, based on the latest […]
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 […]