C.D.C. (Europe)

The European Commission has adopted an Implementing Regulation establishing a new EU reference laboratory (EURL) for public health for respiratory viruses. This marks a significant step in reinforcing the European Union’s capacity to respond to serious cross-border threats.

A study published today shows how public health laboratories can become more resilient against future respiratory infectious diseases. The findings call for sustained capacity, better coordination and EU-level support.

A new modelling study from RespiCompass, the European respiratory disease modelling hub coordinated by ECDC, indicates that influenza and COVID-19 vaccination programmes markedly reduced hospitalisations among older adults across Europe in the 2024/25 season.

2025 marks the final year of the EU Initiative on Health Security, during which ECDC and partner countries continued to strengthen regional cooperation and workforce capacities to tackle communicable diseases across EU enlargement and EU Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partner countries.

ECDC is announcing its plan to strategically and scientifically lead the consolidation and integration of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) as a complementary infectious disease surveillance tool at the EU/EEA level.

Changing diets and an ageing population may be contributing to a rise in serious Listeria infections across Europe, according to the new EU One Health Zoonoses Report from EFSA and ECDC.

Between 2 and 4 December, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) hosted the EU Health Task Force (EUHTF) Partner Forum Meeting together with the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN ) Global Meeting of Partners Regional Session bringing together representatives from EU/EEA Member States, EU institutions, and the GOARN EURO network and international partners to strengthen coordination and preparedness for public health emergencies.

WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean concluded a four-day regional workshop on the operationalisation of the All-Hazard Information Management Toolkit and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in emergency management.