Eurosurveillance - Volume 16, Issue 48, 01 December 2011

In 2010, a total of 27,116 newly diagnosed HIV infections were reported by 28 countries of the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), with evidence of continuing transmission and no clear signs of decline. The predominant mode of transmission and increasing trend of HIV in the EU/EEA was due to sex between men. An increase in AIDS diagnoses in several countries and a high proportion of late presenters suggest delayed access to treatment and care.

Data on newly diagnosed HIV infections and HIV prevalence in 2005 to 2010 suggest falling infection rates in injecting drug users (IDUs) in the European Union (EU). However, recent increases in HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rates in IDUs suggest increasing injecting risks in some countries. The coverage of effective prevention measures has increased, but is still low in several countries. Overall the data suggest a continued risk of new outbreaks of HIV infection among IDUs.

Greece and Romania reported an increased number of HIV cases among injecting drug users (IDUs) during 2011. Most European countries reported no changes in the rate of newly diagnosed cases of HIV or HIV prevalence in IDUs; however, six countries did report increases and several additional countries reported increases in injecting risk indicators or low coverage of prevention services. These indicate a potential risk for increased HIV transmission and future outbreaks unless adequate prevention is implemented.

We describe two cases of mild, modified measles in fully vaccinated adults in the Netherlands. The mildness of disease, the lack of an IgM antibody response, the relatively low amounts of virus detected and the fact that no additional cases were reported, suggests that these vaccinated patients were less contagious than unvaccinated patients.