A peek behind the scenes at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - the EU agency that aims to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases in Europe. Hear from our experts on a wide range of topics as they discuss the things that matter, and give you a crash course in Epidemiology 101.
…
continue reading
Welcome to EURACTIV's health Brief, your weekly update on health policy in the EU from EURACTIV's health news team: Gerardo Fortuna, Giedre Peseckyte and Clara Bauer.
…
continue reading
In this episode, we make a final interview with ECDC Director Andrea Ammon, who will soon be retiring after a long career in public health. Andrea Ammon speaks about her 19 years at ECDC, including 9 years as Director, and reflects on how the agency has evolved. She also tells us about the most memorable moments and challenges, including managing t…
…
continue reading
According to the latest ECDC survey, each year, 4.3 million patients in hospitals in the EU/EEA acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection during their stay in the hospital. Diamantis Plachouras - ECDC Principal Expert in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections tells us why this issue needs to be tackled as swift as …
…
continue reading
Public health institutes across Europe increasingly recognise the value of examining public health trends and imagining what the future may look like according to different scenarios. In this episode, Gerjon Ikink, ECDC principal expert on public health foresight, explains what foresight is, why it is important in public health, and how it can be t…
…
continue reading
For today's episode we sit down with Carlos Carvalho - ECDC's Principal Expert in Digital Surveillance to talk about the state of play of making the public health data flow up to speed in the third decade of the XXI-st century and usable for modern surveillance of infectious diseases. How far are we in creating the fully digital health data system …
…
continue reading
In this episode we take a closer look at the data collection for respiratory viruses and why we should take this more seriously than just a cough or a sneeze. Nick Bundle, ECDC expert on respiratory viruses, also gives us the lowdown on the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS), a new surveillance tool which presents weekly data …
…
continue reading
On today's episode we are joined by Otilia Mårdh, Medical Epidemiologist at ECDC, to discuss the latest reports on sexually transmitted infections in Europe. We explore the key findings from the recent reports, discuss the implications for public health, and uncover the strategies being implemented to address the rising rates of STIs. You can find …
…
continue reading
On today's episode, we sit down with Ines Steffens, editor-in-chief of Eurosurveillance. Eurosurveillance is an open-access peer-reviewed scientific journal devoted to the epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases. Published weekly, with 50 issues per year, it features short rapid communications, longer in-depth re…
…
continue reading
Today's episode is special one, and is hosted by James Ramsey, Head of the Communication Unit at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). He is joined by experts from ECDC,EFSA, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to discuss the One Health prespective. Our well-being…
…
continue reading
For this episode of ECDC on Air, we sit down with ECDC’s expert in genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics – Theresa Enkirch. Theresa gives us an overview of what genetic epidemiologists and bioinformaticians do and how that has changed the current epidemiological world. She also talks about a brand new ECDC course – the GenEpiBioTrain – that can p…
…
continue reading
Every year World AIDS Day is marked on the 1st of December. Beginning in 1988 as the first-ever international day for global health, it is now in its 35th year. We sat down with Anastasia Pharris, Principal expert in Communicable Diseases, to discuss the latest joint ECDC-WHO Europe HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe report to take stock of where Eu…
…
continue reading
Is the artificial intelligence going to take our jobs? Or will it change the daily work of the ECDC experts looking for epidemic signals? Perhaps it already does? In this episode we sit down for a chat with Gianfranco Spiteri - ECDC's Group Leader in the Epidemic Intelligence team to take a look at the recent AI developments and what the new tools …
…
continue reading
Joaquin Baruch who was part of the ECDC Fellowship Programme for epidemiologists - EPIET - talks to us about his experiences as a fellow in Malta, as well as doing field work in places such as Western Sahara, Algeria and Mozambique. This episode was recorded during ESCAIDE 2022, and is aired to mark the World Field Epidemiology Day on 7 September. …
…
continue reading
This week EURACTIV's health reporter Marta Iraola talks to Dr. Emilie Karafillakis about vaccine confidence in Europe and what is behind people's lack of trust in vaccination and public health campaigns. In this episode, the health team reunites before the summer to say goodbye to this podcast as from September health topics will be covered under B…
…
continue reading
From YouTube-recommended videos to facial recognition used to unlock smartphones, AI is already being used on a daily basis. The healthcare sector is not an exception as its ability to process vast amounts of medical data helps in diagnostics and medical image analysis. To better understand where AI is already used and what potential it holds, EURA…
…
continue reading
As the European Parliament debates how European health data space should be shaped, EURACTIV talks with the co-rapporteur of the file, Croatian MEP Tomislav Sokol (EPP), touching on primary and secondary use of data, the reasons why parliament supports the opt-out option and what is left to discuss before the discussions can start with the Council.…
…
continue reading
In this episode, we dig a little deeper into the fascinating world of biostatistics. Our guide is Gaetano Marrone - an ECDC expert in the field of statistics and its use in public health. Listen in to learn more! And don't forget to visit ecdc.europa.eu for general information about ECDC, and follow us on social media.…
…
continue reading
European Health Data Space (EHDS) focuses on the primary and secondary use of data. While the primary use of data is data used by citizens and healthcare professionals at the national and EU levels the secondary data is to be used by researchers, policy makers and pharma. The Commission's proposal does not include any say for patients regarding the…
…
continue reading
On the occasion of the first Healthcare Forum, which took place in Wąsowo, Poland last week, Euractiv spoke with the Regional Director of WHO/Europe, Dr Hans Kluge. In this interview, Dr. Kluge looked back on his meeting with the Polish and Ukrainian Ministers of Health about the Healthy Reconstruction of Ukraine. He dug into the physical and menta…
…
continue reading
This week EURACTIV'S health team explores why fertility is decreasing across the globe, what challenges people face when they want children and the situation of fertility treatments in Europe. For that, Health Reporter Marta Iraola talks with Dr Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology and chair of the European Society for Hu…
…
continue reading
Have you ever wondered how substances of human origin (SoHo) - blood, tissues, cells, organs - can be used in medical therapies? In this episode, ECDCs SoHo Team talks about the lifesaving medical benefits that SoHos can bring and the measures to ensure that they are used safely. The team also gives an overview of the legislation and regulation at …
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s health team dives into how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) can affect children, especially in their most important developmental years. They talk with Doctor Anders Juul, a paediatric endocrinologist at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. He explains how children are exposed to these chemicals and the health issues this can cau…
…
continue reading
On this episode we are speaking with Georgios Theocharopoulos, Scientific Officer for Emergency Preparedness and Response, to discuss ECDC4AfricaCDC, a four-year capacity- and partnership-building project between ECDC and Africa CDC.You can find more information on the ECDC4AfricaCDC project here. For general information about ECDC, please visit …
…
continue reading
Psilocybin, MDMA or LSD might associate with party drugs but their therapeutic value is being discovered worldwide. Ian Roullier took part in two clinical trials that looked at the effects of psilocybin on depression. Through his personal experience, Roullier shares his insights on psychedelic-assisted therapy, its potential value to patients and w…
…
continue reading
Tobacco is responsible for 8 million deaths a year but despite that governments across the world spend millions supporting tobacco farms, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus. As 31 May marks World No Tobacco Day, EURACTIV’s health team talks with Rudiger Krech, WHO Director of the Health Promotion Department, on the impact of toxic…
…
continue reading
With the pandemic lessons in mind, steps are taken for Europe to be stronger and better prepared to tackle current and emerging threats of infectious diseases. ECDC’s new reinforced mandate gives the agency a stronger role to support the EU Member States with surveillance, joint preparedness and response planning and issue stronger guidance during …
…
continue reading
From psychedelics and mental health literature to having pets in EU institutions - EURACTIV’s health reporter Giedrė Peseckytė is talking with three MEPs - Maria Walsh from Christian Democrats, Mikuláš Peksa from the Greens and Karen Melchior from Renew - about mental health.Por Euractiv
…
continue reading
As this week is European Testing Week, a European campaign that aims to increase testing efforts and promote awareness of the benefits of earlier hepatitis and HIV testing, EURACTIV's health team is talking with Jens Lundgren, Professor of infectious diseases at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. He has been involved with clinical HIV researc…
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s health team talks with Chantal Friebertshäuser, Senior Vice President at Moderna for Europe, the Middle East and Canada. They discuss the end of COVID and the new vaccine they are developing against cancer. They also talk about the new facility the biotechnology company recently opened in Madrid, Spain. This new laboratory, eq…
…
continue reading
It's 5 May and we mark today the World Hand Hygiene Day. Hand hygiene or simply - hand washing is one of the simplest, yet most important and effective measure to lower the chances of catching or spreading infectious diseases in public spaces and in healthcare settings! We asked ECDC's expert in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated In…
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s health team dives into the proposal for a new pharmaceutical legislation and the complicated way ahead. For that, they talk with stakeholders working on health policy at the EU level about their priorities and main concerns.Por Euractiv
…
continue reading
It is April 2023 and more than three years have passed since the first cases of COVID-19 were recorded. In this episode we ask Bruno Ciancio, ECDC's Head of Surveillance, to give an overview of the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic until now, explain the current state of the pandemic, and provide a glimpse at how it may evolve in the future. For a…
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s health team dives into endocrine disruptors and the effect these chemicals can have on our hormonal system. They talk with Doctor Angel Nadal, professor of physiology at the University Miguel Hernandez in Spain, about the current framework and what else can be done at the EU level.…
…
continue reading
European Immunization Week (EIW) is marked across Europe every year in the final week of April. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of immunisation for the general health and well-being of the European and wider population. To mark the start of EIW, we have invited the ECDC's Deputy Chief Scientist - Piotr Kramarz to talk about the importa…
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s journalist Marta Iraola talks about the movie ‘The Whale’ with Jacqueline Bowman-Busato, head of policy at the European Association for the Study of Obesity. They focus on the controversies about its portrayal of obesity and the reception among the patient community.Por Euractiv
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s journalist Giedrė Peseckytė is talking with a Polish pro-abortion activist Justyna Wydrzynska who got sentenced in mid-March to eight months of community service for sharing abortion pills with another woman back in 2020. *The interview was conducted on 23 March.Por Euractiv
…
continue reading
Marking world Tuberculosis day (24 March) we are talking with two Ukrainians about how Ukrainians are fighting not only Russia's invasion but also one of the highest incidences of TB cases in the European region.Por Euractiv
…
continue reading
Today, 24th March is World Tuberculosis Day, so there isn't a better time to talk about TB and the different ways to fight it. Our expert - Senia Rosales-Klintz tells us that this indeed is the plan, and with a deadline for 2030. Can it be done? If you would like to read the latest news on TB and see the details of the World TB Day campaign, visit …
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s health team explores the outstanding revision of the EU framework on substances of human origins (SoHo) together with Annemette Arndal-Lauritzen, CEO of the European Sperm Bank, with a focus on the revision of the EU rules for sperm donation.Por Euractiv
…
continue reading
In this episode we catch up with ECDC's Director Andrea Ammon, who gives us the lowdown on the agency's new extended mandate and the EU regulation on serious cross-border threats to health. Andrea Ammon explains how this will help to better protect European citizens from health threats through improved surveillance, smoother international cooperati…
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV's health journalists Marta Iraola and Gerardo Fortuna dig into the troubled implementation of the new framework for medical devices in Europe which entered into force in 2021. When developers of medical devices started experiencing problems in meeting the deadlines for implementing the key rules of the new regulation, the EU law…
…
continue reading
On this episode we are speaking with Cornelia Adlhoch again, and discussing the avian influenza outbreak, its spread to other animals, and whether we should worry about it spreading further. If you would like to read more about the latest report about the ongoing avian influenza outbreaks in birds, you can find it here. If you would like to know mo…
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s journalists Clara Bauer and Gerardo Fortuna sat with the EU’s health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides to talk about women’s health on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The EU health chief also gave some anticipations on what is coming up next in the EU’s health policy agenda.…
…
continue reading
In this episode we learn about virus mutations by speaking to Erik Alm, ECDC Principal Expert on Applied Molecular Biology. Erik talks about the reasons why viruses mutate, whether new variants are generally more transmissible and cause more severe disease, and how worried we should be about new SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Learn more about the current #C…
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV’s health team brings you the nitty-gritty of the European Health Data Space together with one of the European Parliament's rapporteur on the file, the centre-right Croatian MEP Tomislav SokolPor Euractiv
…
continue reading
This week, EURACTIV's health team dig into the European Parliament’s role in the ongoing saga on the transparency of the COVID-19 vaccine contracts between the European Commission and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer with MEP Tilly Metz.Por Euractiv
…
continue reading
How much information can we get from raw health data? Why are statistics so important for our collective health? We spoke with Joana Gomes Dias, ECDC's expert in Biostatistics, about the important role data can play. In one example, Joana explains the direct impact of COVID-19 patients' health data on state-adapted vaccination policies. If you woul…
…
continue reading
This time we sit down with Barbara Albiger - ECDC expert specialising in scientific processes, who explains the steps of preparing scientific recommendations and advice. We go through the nitty-gritty of the data and information collection, verification and expert double-checks that precede the publication of final measures to be taken. We also tou…
…
continue reading
In this episode we catch up with Liselotte Diaz-Högberg, one of ECDC’s experts on antimicrobial resistance. Liselotte explains why it’s so important that we are prudent with the use of antibiotics so that they remain effective. She also tells us more about the latest data on deaths, resistance levels and antibiotic consumption. You can find all of …
…
continue reading
Today we are speaking with Laura Espinosa again, but this time about vibrio in the Baltic sea. While vibrio may not be so common, indeed, you may be entirely unfamiliar with it, there has been an increased observance of it in the summer months. Laura explains what ECDC does to keep an eye on this particular and peculiar bacteria. You can find find …
…
continue reading
It is time to talk about the seasonal flu. And for that, we invited our ECDC influenza expert - Cornelia Adlhoch to talk about what we can expect from the upcoming flu season, whether we need to fear a dual #COVID19/influenza pandemic and how to best protect oneself. Check our 2022 seasonal #FluAwareness campaign here: https://bit.ly/FluAwareness20…
…
continue reading