Weekly releases (1997–2007) - Volume 12, Issue 26, 28 June 2007

Several tuberculosis outbreaks in schools have been reported in the last decade, usually following transmission from an infectious staff member.

Infections caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) have emerged as a major public health problem worldwide.

Hantaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses carried by a specific rodent species in Palearctic areas. They have been identified as etiologic agents of disease in humans: haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Old World and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Americas.

In their article on antiviral stockpiles and influenza antiviral susceptibility monitoring Meijer at al. expressed concern about the discrepancy between nearly all countries in Europe having influenza antiviral stockpiles as part of their pandemic plans and yet only a few having laboratory capacity to perform antiviral susceptibility testing.

In responding to our paper on the current limitations in influenza antiviral susceptibility testing in Europe, Ciancio and Nicoll criticise our suggestions for enhanced capacity in individual countries and favour a system that, as at present, relies on resistance monitoring by predefined central laboratories, as they consider this model most effective for clinical and public health purposes during a pandemic.