ECDC Data

1. Communicable disease threats report, 17-23 January 2021, week 3

   This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 17-23 January 2021 and includes updates on Legionnaires' disease, COVID-19, dengue, influenza, avian influenza A(H5N6), avian influenza A(H9N2), poliomyelitis and chikungunya.

2. Risk related to the spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in the EU/EEA – first update

   This risk assessment presents the latest available information on the recent emergence of three variants of concern, VOC 202012/01 identified in the United Kingdom (UK), 501Y.V2 identified in South Africa, and P.1 identified in Brazil and Japan.

3. Plague - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2019

   For 2019, no cases of plague were reported by any of the EU/EEA countries.

4. Influenza virus characterisation, December 2020

   This is the third report for the 2020–2021 influenza season. As of week 53/2020, only 415 influenza detections across the WHO European Region had been reported; 50% type A viruses, with A(H3N2) prevailing over A(H1N1)pdm09, and 50% type B viruses with only four having been ascribed to a lineage, three B/Victoria and one B/Yamagata. This represents a 98% drop in detections compared to the same period in 2019, probably due to the COVID-19 pandemic and measures introduced to combat it.

5. ECDC rapid assessment of laboratory practices and needs related to COVID-19

   This report assesses the current status of the EU/EEA and the UK COVID-19 laboratory response based on a short survey sent to all Member States and the UK.