Eeva K Broberg, Benedetto Simone, Josep Jansa and the EU/EEA Member State contributors

An upsurge in Echovirus 30 (E30) infections, associated with meningitis/meningoencephalitis, has been observed in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden in the period April to September 2018, compared with 2015–2017. In total, 658 E30 infections among 4,537 enterovirus infections were detected in 15 countries between January and September 2018 and affected mainly newborns and 26–45 year-olds. National public health institutes are reminded to remain vigilant and inform clinicians of the ongoing epidemic.…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- United States"The purpose of declaring an outbreak is to determine when appropriate public health interventions should be considered. In contrast to previous guidance in which a threshold of 3 cases of the same serogroup with an attack rate of more than 10 cases per 100 000 population during a 3- month period was used to define both organization- and community-based outbreaks, the current guidance does not recommend the use of an absolute threshold. However, the following thresholds can be considered as…

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West Nile Virus -- RomaniaIn a follow-up on the West Nile virus (WNV) situation in Romania, the National Center for Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control reported (computer translated) since the start of surveillance on [2 May 2018], 23 meningitis/meningo-encephalitis have been reported due to West Nile virus infection and a death in the case of a 79-year-old patient who had comorbidities.Officials say the cases in Romania are sporadic and there is currently no risk of an epidemic.In addition to Romania…

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West Nile Virus -- GreeceGreek health officials have reported 21 additional confirmed human West Nile virus (WNV) cases during the past week, bringing the country total to 43 in 2018. Of the total, 35 presented with neuro-invasive disease (WNND, encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis) and 8 cases with mild symptoms (febrile syndrome). No deaths have been reported.In Europe, since the beginning of the 2018 transmission season, as of 2 Aug 2018, 111 human cases have been reported in the…

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Meningitis -- ChinaAbstract--------Angiostrongyliasis is a foodborne parasitic disease caused by the nematode _Angiostrongylus cantonensis_ that can lead to eosinophilic meningitis (EM) or meningoencephalitis in humans._A. cantonensis_ is prevalent in the Pacific Islands. In recent years, a large number of outbreaks and severe cases have occurred. Several species of mollusk, such as snails and slugs, act as intermediate and paratenic hosts of _A. cantonensis_.In this study, 2 cases of EM were found…

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West Nile Virus -- RomaniaFive citizens in Romania have been diagnosed with meningitis caused by the West Nile virus.The Romanian Ministry of Health recommends to local authorities to take pest control measures as soon as possible to prevent the spreading of the virus, stiri.tvr.ro reported, adding that 80 percent of the people that were infected or get infected have no symptoms.The only signs and tangible proof that something might be seriously wrong are high fever and headaches. In this case, specialists…

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Tuberculosis, Antimicrobial resistance, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis E, Mycobacteria, non-TB, HIV/AIDS, Schistosomiasis, Meningitis, Diphtheria, MERS, Sexually Transmitted Infection, Other Human Disease, Diarrhea, Scrub Typhus, Tularemia -- EthiopiaEditorialThe preventable tragedy of diphtheria in the 21st centuryInt J Infect Dis. 2018 (June); 71: 122-123.LH Blumberg, MA Prieto, JV Diaz, MJ Blanco, B Valle, C Pla, et alPerspectiveHealthcare worker exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of screening strategies urgently neededInt J Infect Dis. 2018 (June); 71: 113-116.Hala Amer, Abdulrahman S Alqahtani, Faisal Alaklobi, Juhaina Altayeb, Ziad A Memish.Original…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- KazakhstanEpidemiological situation on meningococcal infection:Since the beginning of 2018, 59 cases of meningococcal infection have been registered in the Republic of Kazakhstan, including 21 cases among children under 14 years of age. 13 of them have died: Almaty -- 6 cases; in Almaty region -- 4 cases; in South Kazakhstan -- 2 cases; and in Kyzylorda region -- 1 case.The situation is under the control of the Ministry of Health.--communicated by:Irene Lai, MDInternational SOSGlobal…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- NetherlandsThe Netherlands is heading for a record number of infections with the meningococcal bacterium type [serogroup] W, also known as meningitis. So far this year [2018], 57 people ended up in intensive care, and 11 people died because of this bacterium, according to figures AD [Algemeen Dagblad, a Dutch daily newspaper based in Rotterdam] received from the national institute for public health RIVM [Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment].The number of meningitis deaths…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- KazakhstanEight people have died of meningococcal disease in Kazakhstan since the start of 2018, chief sanitary doctor Jandarbek Bekshin said.62 meningococcal disease cases were registered in total, including 29 cases in Almaty, 4 cases in East Kazakhstan, South Kazakhstan regions and Astana each, and 3 cases in Almaty region, he said."Of the 8 lethal cases registered since start of the year [2018], 4 cases were registered in Almaty and 2 cases in Almaty region and South Kazakhstan region each,"…