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Emerging and vector-borne diseases - Annual Epidemiological Report 2014 [2012 data]

Surveillance report
4 Nov 2014
Publication series: Annual Epidemiological Report on Communicable Diseases in Europe
Cite:

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Annual epidemiological report 2014 – emerging and vector-borne diseases. Stockholm: ECDC; 2014.

​The Annual Epidemiological Report 2014 gives an overview of the epidemiology of communicable diseases of public health significance in Europe, drawn from surveillance information on the 52 communicable diseases and health issues for which surveillance is mandatory in the European Union and European Economic Area countries.
 
In order to facilitate more timely publication, this year’s edition of the Annual Epidemiological Report is being first published a disease group at a time and will later be compiled into one comprehensive report. This report presents the epidemiological situation for emerging and vector-borne diseases as of 2012 and describes the statistical and epidemiological methods used.
 
Produced annually, the report is intended for policymakers and health sector leaders, epidemiologists, scientists and the wider public. It is hoped that readers will find it a useful overview and reference to better understand the present situation in relation to communicable diseases in Europe. It should also usefully assist policymakers and health leaders in making evidence-based decisions to plan and improve programmes, services and interventions for preventing, managing and treating these diseases.

Executive summary

The emerging and vector borne disease content for the 2014 Annual Epidemiological Report provides a snapshot of the epidemiological situation in Europe. The report features data from 2012 and gives an overview of the epidemiology of each disease:

  • The number of Q fever cases in the EU continues to decrease, small outbreaks are still evident in at risk sheep and goat herds.
  • The 2012 data confirms the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) trends from previous years: a clear predominance in males over 45 year olds, and seasonally - a clear peak during the summer months.
  • All chikungunya cases reported in 2012 were imported to the EU/EEA. However, their overall numbers have decreased in recent years.
  • While the number of reported dengue fever cases to EU is variable: in 2012 it was nearly twice the number reported in 2011, while still lower than in 2010. 
  • The rate of malaria cases remains stable over the last few years, with nearly all (99%) of the reported cases imported by travellers to malaria endemic countries; autochthonous transmission of malaria was occasionally reported in Europe over the last 10 years.
  • Hantavirus, the most commonly reported haemorrhagic disease in Europe, is particularly prevalent in Northern Europe (Finland), indicators show no real increase in the number of cases in Europe. 
  • In 2012, the number of human cases of West Nile fever was higher than in 2011 and, with the exception of Greece, the 2013 figures confirm this trend.

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