ECDC Concludes That Vaccination of Risk Groups and Healthcare Workers Should Be Further Strengthened As Seasonal Influenza Spreads Across Europe

Today ECDC issued scientific advice stressing the importance of further strengthening influenza vaccination of people in risk groups and healthcare workers to ensure a high level of protection. Through the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS), a number of countries in the southern and western parts of the EU are reporting consultation rates for influenza above the levels seen in the last two or more seasons. Most of the viruses identified so far are influenza A(H3N2), the subtype associated with moderately severe influenza last season (2007/8) in North America and in parts the Southern Hemisphere in their winter season in 2008. Further spread of influenza to the north and east seems very likely in the coming weeks. That is why ECDC is now reminding people in risk groups for influenza and healthcare workers to be vaccinated. Guidance issued by ECDC in August 2008 indentified older people, along with persons with chronic medical conditions such as chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, renal disease and immune impairment, as being the priority risk groups for influenza. Also in many EU countries health care workers are recommended for immunization.

Professor Johan Giesecke, ECDC’s Chief Scientist said:
“Influenza vaccination is important in every winter season and this season is certainly no exception. In fact, early indictors from the first affected countries suggest that this may be the worst influenza season that Europe has seen in the past two or three years. Given these facts, ECDC is emphasising its advice that vaccination of risk groups for influenza, notably older people and those with chronic medical conditions, as well as healthcare workers, is key to mitigating the effects of seasonal influenza”.

ECDC surveillance of seasonal influenza

Surveillance of seasonal influenza in Europe is based on reporting of influenza viruses detected by laboratories and networks of sentinel doctors (mostly general practitioners) reporting rates of people consulting with influenza like illness (ILI) or acute respiratory infections (ARI). The latter clinical surveillance takes place each winter between week 40 of one year and week 20 of the following year. From a subset of ILI/ARI cases clinical specimens are also collected for virological testing for influenza and some other viruses. This surveillance was developed in Europe as the long-standing European Influenza Surveillance Scheme (EISS), now overseen by ECDC, and is part of the Global Influenza Surveillance Network of WHO.