Weekly releases (1997–2007) - Volume 6, Issue 5, 31 January 2002

Atovaquone is a highly active antiplasmodial drug based on the natural product lapachol (1) (from Surinam greenheart wood). Atovaquone and lapachol are 2-hydroxynaphthoquinones mimicking ubiquinone in the mitochondrial cytochrome B-C1 complex.

The Gezondheidsraad (Health Council) in the Netherlands was asked to advise the minister of health on the revision and possible expansion of the national vaccination programme, and consequently published a recommendation on universal vaccination against infections with group C meningococci and pneumococci recently.

After the recognition of AIDS, surveillance of HIV across Europe relied principally on the reporting of AIDS cases (1). The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), however, slowed progression to disease, and complicated the interpretation of AIDS data. Trends no longer reflected the incidence of HIV. In many European countries, reporting of HIV infections has become increasingly valued as a central component of HIV/AIDS surveillance.

In recent months, several member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have sought advice on the threat of bioterrorist attacks, as reported in last week’s Weekly Epidemiological Record (1). WHO’s guidance to countries on strengthening national preparedness and effective responses to such events is set out in the document Public health response to biological and chemical weapons.

After an epidemic of meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 among travellers returning from the haj pilgrimage to Mecca in 2000, an enhanced surveillance system for W135: 2a: P1.2, 5 meningococcal disease was set up among several European countries (1, and references therein). Data have been reported since September 2000, and this report summarises all confirmed cases in the period 27 October to 28 December 2001.