European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD), which takes place on 18 November 2019, is a health initiative coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in partnership with the World Health Organization’s World Antibiotic Awareness Week, which runs from 18 to 24 November 2019, and provides a platform and support for national campaigns on the prudent use of antibiotics in the EU/EEA.

ECDC is marking the 12th EAAD with an EU-level event in Stockholm, Sweden. The conference will be live streamed on ECDC EAAD Facebook channel on 18 November 2019. Viewers are encouraged to join the event to see key note speeches and panel discussions with invited governmental institutions, professional and patient organisations, country representatives and media.

On the same day, ECDC will publish its annual update on antibiotic resistance and antibiotic consumption surveillance data from EU/EEA countries. Additionally, a report with the results of the first multi-country and multi-professional study on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of healthcare workers with respect to antibiotics, antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance across 30 EU/EEA countries, will be published at the same time.

A special edition of Eurosurveillance on antimicrobial use and prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in acute and long-term care facilities has been published to mark EAAD.

Source: ECDC, November 2019

On 12 November 2019, in advance of European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) and World Antibiotic Awareness Week, Health Protection Scotland (HPS) has published the third annual ‘Scottish One Health Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance (SONAAR)’ report.

This report provides information relating to antimicrobial use and resistance in a range of human and animal infections in Scotland. This is the first time the report has included animal antimicrobial use data from small animal veterinary practices and environmental antimicrobial resistance data. HPS will continue to expand these areas in future years, reflecting support for the ‘One Health’ approach to containing antimicrobial resistance.

The report is intended to support planning, prioritisation and evaluation of initiatives to optimise antimicrobial use and to minimise antimicrobial resistance.

The Scottish Government’s Chief Medical Officer Directorate has reported that deliveries of some batches of this year’s childhood influenza vaccine have been delayed. The batches affected are of the Live Attenuated Intranasal Vaccine (LAIV), Fluenz Tetra®.

The Government reported that five of eight batches due for delivery to the UK in November and December failed their routine quality assurance testing procedure, conducted by the manufacturer. This failure is not related to the safety or efficacy of the vaccines and affects vaccine supplies to all countries of the UK. 

There will be reduced stock of the vaccine available during November and potentially early December. It is anticipated that stock will become available again within two to four weeks.

Source: Scottish Government, 1 November 2019

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published two reports in its series of annual epidemiological reports on communicable diseases in Europe. 

• Congenital toxoplasmosis annual report for 2017 reported 194 confirmed cases of congenital toxoplasmosis were reported in the EU/EEA, with France accounting for 79% of all confirmed cases due to active screening of pregnant women. 
• Yersiniosis annual report for 2018 reported 7,204 confirmed yersiniosis cases in 29 countries in the EU/EEA, with the highest rates reported by Finland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. 

Source: ECDC, 7 November 2019

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a risk assessment which concludes that improved surveillance, communication and collaboration are key to controlling the spread of African swine fever in Europe. 

The assessment, which was requested by the European Commission, evaluated the possibility of spread among nine disease-free countries, these being Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.

The EFSA assessment concludes that the risk of the disease spreading among these countries within one year of introduction is very high (66-100%). However, the risk of the disease spreading west into other EU member states within the same time frame are rated as very low (0-15%).

Source: EFSA, 5 November 2019

On 4 November 2019, the Scottish Affairs Committee published the report of their comprehensive inquiry into problematic drug use in Scotland. Health Protection Scotland (HPS), along with Information Services Division (ISD) and NHS Health Scotland provided written and oral evidence to the committee.

The committee has called for the UK Government to adopt a public health approach to drugs policy, and has recommended a review of the impact of welfare sanctions and support of radical, whole-system change to address the root causes of problem drug use. There is significant evidence that poverty and deprivation are the main structural drivers contributing to problematic drug use in Scotland, with drug-related harm a common symptom of wide levels of inequality.

Source: NHS Health Scotland, 5 November 2019

NHS Fife has published a report on the health impacts of flaring at the Mossmorran plant.

The report, which investigates and assesses health-related claims with respect to the Mossmorran plant, is presented in three parts, a summary of recent public concerns expressed to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), a summary of past work examining cancer incidence and/or mortality in the surrounding area, and a literature search and review carried out by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) of the reported evidence of health impacts relating to flaring.

The Scottish Government has opened a consultation to gather views on its proposals for legislation to develop a circular economy in Scotland.

A circular economy is one in which resources are kept in use for as long as possible, which  can benefit the environment, by cutting waste and carbon emissions; the economy, by improving productivity and opening up new markets; and communities, by providing local employment opportunities. 

The proposals in the consultation form part of wider plans for a change in approach towards reducing, reusing and recycling materials, as part of Scotland’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions.

There are two parts to the consultation, these being proposals for a circular economy bill, including measures to charge for items such as single-use disposable beverage cups and proposals for two secondary regulations, relating to public bodies’ procurement strategies and to increasing the minimum single-use carrier bag charge from 5p to 10p.

The consultation paper is available from the Scottish Government website, and participants can fill in the online form to give their views. The consultation closes on 19 December 2019.

Source: Scottish Government, 7 November 2019

In a report published on 5 November 2019 by the Universal Ecological Fund (FEU-US), 11,000 scientists warn that, by 2030, the failure to reduce emissions could cost the world a minimum of $2 billion (£1.5 billion) per day in economic losses from weather events made worse by human-induced climate change.

The report also states that weather events and patterns will hurt human health, livelihoods, food, and water, as well as biodiversity.

On 4 November 2019, the US began the formal process to withdraw itself from the Paris Agreement on climate change and the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change notes concerns about the impact of this decision on people’s health, both in the US, and around the world.

Source: UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, 5 November 2019

The Indian city of New Delhi is currently experiencing severe levels of air pollution. Contributory factors include firecrackers ignited during Diwali celebrations, the seasonal, but often prohibited, burning of stubble, and severe adverse weather. 

In response to the current situation, the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) declared a public health emergency.

In addition to mandating measures that must be taken to combat the pollution in Delhi, the authorities advises everyone to minimise their exposure to the high levels of pollution, including restricting physical exercise outside, until levels of pollution reduce.

Travellers are advised to take sensible precautions to minimise exposure to high levels of air pollution by:

• restricting time spent outside 
• restricting physical exercise outside 
• travellers are also advised to take notice of any health advisories published by the Indian authorities

Public Health England (PHE) has advised that a properly fitted face mask may provide some protection. While masks should be available in India, travellers may choose to buy their own before travelling to India. PHE recommend masks that comply with EU standards P2 or P3 or the US standards N95 or N98. Travellers should ensure that their mask fits, and that they know how to wear it properly.

Air pollution can affect everyone, including healthy people. Short-term exposure, over hours or days, to elevated levels of air pollution may result in worsening or aggravation of pre-existing respiratory, heart or circulatory system illnesses. Long-term exposure, over years or lifetime, reduces life expectancy by increasing deaths from heart or circulatory and respiratory conditions and from lung cancer.

Travellers with pre-existing conditions that might make them more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and are travelling to areas where air pollution levels are high, should discuss travel plans with their healthcare provider, follow precautions to minimise exposure, and carry adequate supplies of any regular medication.

Source: Travel Health Pro, 6 November 2019