Eurosurveillance - Volume 16, Issue 21, 26 May 2011

Since early May 2011, an increased incidence of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and bloody diarrhoea related to infections with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has been observed in Germany, with most cases in the north of the country. Cases reported from other European countries had travelled to this area. First results of a case-control study conducted in Hamburg suggest an association between the occurrence of disease and the consumption of raw tomatoes, cucumber and leaf salad. .

The gonococcal porA pseudogene is a popular target for in-house Neisseria gonorrhoeae PCR methods. With this study we present two novel findings: the first case of an N. gonorrhoeae porA pseudogene PCR false-negative result caused by sequence variation, and in the same organism, the first description of a clinical N. gonorrhoeae strain harbouring an N. meningitidis porA sequence.

We describe an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in a childcare centre in a district of Zagreb county, north-west Croatia. A total of eleven cases of HFMD occurred in the childcare centre and another nine were reported from nearby areas in the district. Coxsackie A16 virus was diagnosed in 13 clinical specimens obtained from 11 symptomatic and asymptomatic children. All cases resolved without complications.

The decision to introduce human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination into the national immunisation programme in Spain was made in October 2007, recommending vaccination of girls aged between 11 and 14 years with three doses of HPV vaccine. All 19 regions of the country (17 Autonomous Communities and two Autonomous Cities) introduced HPV vaccination gradually into their immunisation programmes between November 2007 and the last school term of 2008. Eight regions administered the vaccine in healthcare centres and 11 in schools. In the first year of the introduction of HPV vaccination, coverage of the first and third doses was assessed, to determine the proportion of girls who did not complete the vaccination. On the basis of the available data, the Ministry of Health estimated that coverage for the first dose was 87.2% (range: 73.9-98.9%; 95% CI: 71.8 to 100) and 77.3% (range: 62.2-97.4%; 95% CI: 57.9 to 96.7) for the third dose. Higher uptake was observed when the vaccination was carried out in schools compared with healthcare centres, but the difference was not statistically significant. Negative messages in the media during implementation of the HPV vaccination programme may have had some influence on the attitudes of adolescent girls and/or their parents towards HPV vaccination and may be partly responsible for the observed vaccination dropout rate. .