European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

Getting ready for the EPH Conference? You can still register to attend ECDC's pre-conference workshop providing social and behavioural perspectives on vaccination uptake, taking place on 11 November. The workshop at #EPH2025 will explore key concepts in vaccine hesitancy and ECDC's 𝟱𝗖𝘀 model to promote vaccination acceptance and uptake. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀. Join us: https://bit.ly/43gSdo9 Learn more about our social and behavioural tools: https://bit.ly/4oq87Vw #BehaviouralInsights #SocialAndBehaviouralScience #PublicHealth

🧬 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 - 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗖𝗗𝗖 This week, ECDC is bringing together virologists from across Europe to strengthen surveillance of respiratory viruses – including influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV. The discussions focus on how virology supports public health action: 🔹 understanding how viruses evolve and spread, 🔹 assessing severity and antiviral susceptibility, 🔹 and guiding updates to vaccine strains when needed. The meeting aims to translate virological data into evidence that supports decision-making and helps reduce the impact of respiratory infections across the region. 📊 The virological information on respiratory viruses reported by European countries to ECDC are regularly analysed and presented in: ➡️ reports - https://bit.ly/4orTmll ➡️ and in the weekly bulletin ERVISS - https://erviss.org - published in collaboration with WHO Regional Office for Europe. #ECDC #PublicHealth #RespiratoryViruses #Virology #Influenza #RSV #COVID19 #Surveillance #ERVISS #RSV #Flu #Influenza

Today we celebrate the first year of the European Reference Laboratories for Public Health! An amazing opportunity to be part of the first six EURL-PH, together with : - EURL-PH-AMR - European Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Diphtheria and pertussis (EURL-PH-DIPE) - EURL-PH on Vector-borne viral pathogens - EURL-PH on Emerging, rodent-borne and zoonotic viral pathogens - EURL-PH on High-risk, emerging and zoonotic bacterial pathogens Looking forward to welcome other EURL-PH into the EURL network !

Advancing laboratory excellence in Thessaloniki 🔬 On European Laboratory Day, experts from National Reference Laboratories across Europe gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece, for the training “Aedes-borne viral diseases in Europe.” The EU Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Public Health for Vector-borne Viruses organised the course to help strengthen EU capacity and capability for detecting mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. The EURL is part of a wider network of EU Reference Laboratories coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) which supports diagnostic and surveillance excellence and collaboration across Europe. Connecting laboratories across Europe 🌍 Twenty experts from Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Greece, Czechia, Cyprus, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Ireland and Norway joined the training to exchange experiences and learn from each other’s day-to-day practice. Building diagnostic excellence 🧬 'Vector-borne viruses pose a growing threat in Europe,' says Prof. Chantal Reusken, coordinator of the EURL and principal expert in virology at RIVM. 'It is essential to have strong, interconnected laboratories and microbiology expertise. To mount an effective public health response, we need expert microbiologists to reliably detect cases, monitor pathogen characteristics and translate data into public health action.' Collaboration in action 🧪 The course was organised in collaboration with Prof. Anna Papa and Dr Georgios Meletis from the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, with support from Mariella Van Der Velpen and Çağdaş Taş from RIVM. By connecting laboratories and building diagnostic expertise, RIVM and partners help ensure Europe is prepared for emerging infectious disease threats. #EuropeanLaboratoryDay #VectorBorneDiseases #PublicHealth #Collaboration #OneHealth

#EULabDay serves as a great reminder of the importance of EU Reference Laboratories (EURLs). EURLs are a cornerstone of Europe’s ability to detect, compare and respond quickly to cross-border health threats. By ensuring high-quality, comparable data and connecting laboratories across Member States, we can act fast and effectively when new infectious diseases emerge. A strong network of EURLs means stronger preparedness, faster response, and a healthier Europe.

This week, we welcomed a high-level delegation from the Japan Institute for Health Security for ECDC’s 20th Anniversary, led by President Dr. Norihiro Kokudo and Executive Director Dr. Teiji Takei. The delegation met with ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner and experts to discuss preparedness, response, and the use of artificial intelligence in data collection. We greatly valuee the ongoing cooperation with Japan and stand committed to continue working together to strengthen global health security. #InternationalCooperation #PublicHealth #ECDC #20YearsECDC

🧫 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆! Behind every reliable test result, every coordinated outbreak response, and every piece of trusted public health data in Europe, there is a network of laboratories working together. At European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), we coordinate the network of 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 (𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗟𝘀) – expert laboratories designated by the European Commission to strengthen Europe’s capacity to detect, assess and respond to serious cross-border threats to health. 🔬 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗟𝘀 𝗱𝗼? They bring together Europe’s leading microbiology expertise to: • promote alignment of laboratory diagnostics, testing methods and reporting practices, • provide reference materials and external quality assessments, • offer scientific and technical advice, • coordinate training, capacity building and research, and • support outbreak investigation and response. Through these activities, EURLs ensure that diagnostic results are comparable and reliable across Member States – a cornerstone for effective disease surveillance and cross-border cooperation. Funded by the #EU4Health programme, the EURLs for public health are a key component of the European Health Union, helping to build a strong, coordinated and resilient public health laboratory system across the EU and EEA. The first network of EURLs for public health became operational in January 2025, covering key areas such as: ➡️ antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, ➡️ vector-borne and emerging viral pathogens, ➡️ high-risk bacterial pathogens, Legionella, diphtheria and pertussis. 🎧 Learn more about how the EURLs work and what they mean for the future of public health microbiology in the latest episode of ECDC On Air with Rita Figueira (European Commission's DG SANTE - EU Health and Food Safety) and ECDC's expert - Andreas Hoefer. Listen here 🔗 bit.ly/ECDConAir68 #PublicHealth #EUHealth #EURL #ECDC #HealthSecurity #EU4Health #Diagnostics #OutbreakResponse #LabExcellence #EuropeanHealthUnion #EuropeanReferenceLaboratoryDay

Today is the European Laboratory day, to celebrate contributions of laboratory medicine professionals across Europe. More information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ds3dgaAE At the same time the European Reference Laboratories for Public Health (EURL-PH) have been carrying out their important tasks to support and strenghten the national reference laboratories and ECDC to monitor and control multiple pathogens. The first six EURL-PHs were designed for: 1. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria 2. Diphtheria and pertussis 3. Emerging, rodent-borne and zoonotic viral pathogens 4. High-risk, emerging and zoonotic bacterial pathogens 5. Legionella 6. Vector-borne viral pathogens In the beginning of 2026, the EURL-PH family will increase with three additional reference laboratories: 1. Food- and water-borne bacteria 2. Food- and water-borne viruses 3. Food-, water- and vector-borne helminths and protozoa Let's continue the good work and ensure that public health remains at a high level in Europe.

Today is European Laboratory day, a good day to put the spotlight on the first six European Reference Laboratories for Public Health (EURL-PH) that started their work this year. The EURLs support national reference laboratories and strengthen European lab systems through capacity and capability building, and by provision of essential microbiological expertise. The six EURLs-PH: * Vector-borne viral pathogens, coordinated @RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment * Emerging, rodent-borne and zoonotic viral pathogens  * High-risk, emerging and zoonotic bacterial pathogens  * Legionella  * Diphtheria and pertussis  * Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria