Newsletter - November 2018

1. Editorial
2. EUPHA update
3. European Public Health Conference
4. EUPHA members update
5. European Journal of Public Health
6. Call for proposals, job opportunities
7. Interesting news
8. Upcoming courses and conferences
9. Interesting publications
10. European Commission news
11. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news
12. WHO news

1. Editorial

Welcome to our November newsletter, including information from EUPHA, EUPHA members, European Commission, ECDC and WHO. We hope the information is useful to further your work. This month, the newsletter is a bit shorter than usual due to the fact that the whole public health community is at the 11th European Public Health Conference at this moment and we are all very busy enhacing our capacity and voicing our knowledge. 

Wishing you pleasant reading,

Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, EUPHA President and Dineke Zeegers Paget, EUPHA Executive Director

2. EUPHA update

WEBINAR: Addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - evidence and policy implementation

This afternoon - Friday 30 Nov 2018 - 4 p.m. (GMT+1)) - EUPHA is organising the webinar ‘Addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), evidence and policy implementation’ - live from the European Public Health conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In this webinar, we will share the AMR discussions that are going on at the conference and the need for AMR policy implementation. Also we will look at two country case studies, i.e. Italy and The Netherlands. 
The discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic in 1928, marked the beginning of a new medical era. Antibiotics became the cornerstone for treatment of previously deadly infections and an important driver of economic and societal growth. However, the developing threat of AMR faces the world once again with the imminent come back of potentially deadly diseases. Recognising the importance of addressing AMR alarming situation and the importance of public-private sectors and researchers’ talks to improve cooperation, EUPHA invites you to its first webinar “Addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), evidence and policy implementation”. 
 
Speakers:
Aura Timen, President of EUPHA section on Infectious diseases control / Free University of Amsterdam and National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). 
Silvio Brusaferro, Professor of Hygiene and Public Health, Head of Department of Medicine – University of Udine, Head of Accreditation, Clinical Risk Management and Performance Assessment Unit, Udine Healthcare and University Integrated Trust.
 
Meeting link:  
https://meetings.webex.com/collabs/#/meetings/detail?uuid=M6WLOP6VC5NBAG3AE00BBZ4C31-1ECEZ&rnd=288630.80963 

EUPHA HIA collaboration with IAIA

The EUPHA section on Health impact assessment will collaborate with the International Association of Impact Assessment on the issue of bringing in health in impact assessments  - in this case - in particular in environmental impact assessments (eia) in a good way. We look forward to disseminating the results in due time. 

New internship blog published

Mathilda Ruden, an intern at  EUPHA office in September-October, has published her experiences on the EUPHAnxt website. EUPHAnxt organises informal internships with the help of the European Solidarity Corps and financial support under the operating grant from Chafea. 

The Ljubljana statement calling for politicial engagement to reduce inequalities in health

The Ljubljana statement was published at the start of the conference. Set up by EUPHA and the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health, this statement has already been supported by 29 organisations and institutes. Are you interested to join? Contact us at: office@eupha.org 

https://ephconference.eu/repository/advo...

New president-elect and secretary in the EUPHA Executive Council

In the Governing Board, our members elected two new members of the EUPHA Executive Council. Iveta Nagyova, president of the EUPHA section on Chronic diseases, was elected as incoming president. Iveta is from Slovakia and has been very active in the EUPHA network from the start. Marieke Verschuuren was elected as secretary to the Executive Council. Marieke is from the Netherlands and has previously been president of the EUPHA section on Public health monitoring and reporting. Walter Ricciardi, past president of EUPHA, stepped down from the Executive Council after more than 10 years of enthusiastic and committed leadership. 

3. European Public Health Conference

Ljubljana 2018: a wonderful place to be

At the publication of this newsletter, the majority of the public health professionals in Europe are in Ljubljana, Slovenia, attending the 11th European public health conference. 
With just over 1'650 conference delegates, 160 oral, pitch sessions and workshops, 20 poster walks and 7 plenary sessions, the programme is fully packed. Nevertheless, there is room and time for networking and exchanging thoughts. There is a very positive vibe going on in Ljubljana and the wonderful (but cold) weather is also contributing to this. 

One more full day and all delegates will return home with new energy, new ideas and a new sense of belonging to the public health family. 

We thank our Slovenian hosts,  in particular Ivan Erzen and Tit Albreht, for the wonderful conference as well as for the efficient and pleasant collaboration. 

Next stop: Marseille 2019!

4. EUPHA members update

Ljubljana 2018: the EUPHA network meets

We are very pleased to have such a large presentation in Ljubljana of our members (30 of our countries are at the conference). Several workshops have been organised with the participation of our members. For instance, the workshop on the legalization of marijuana in Europe included presentations from Belgium, France, Slovenia, Malta and the Netherlands, which resulted in an animated discussion with the audience. 

In the EUPHA Governing Board, the first results of the request for national input from our members on the SDGs in their country were presented. 63% of our members have provided input, giving us a wealth of information to plan our future activities together with our members. 

5. European Journal of Public Health

Re-admission patterns in England and the Netherlands: a comparison based on administrative data of all hospitals

Work-disability in low back pain patients with or without surgery, and the role of social insurance regulation changes in Sweden

The effect of early-life and adult socioeconomic position on development of lifestyle-related diseases

6. Call for proposals, job opportunities

Tenure-Track Faculty Position Open to rank of Assistant Professor Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Public and Population Health

The Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, invites applications for a tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Public and Population Health.
 
McGill University was founded in 1819 and is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and among the top three in Canada. McGill is located in Montreal
(http://www.montrealinternational.com/en/), a diverse multiethnic city with a sparkling cultural life. Montreal has been selected numerous times as the best city for students in North America. Montreal is safe, housing costs are among the lowest for cities of comparable size, and overall quality of life is
 
The Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health is home to one of the largest concentrations of Faculty with expertise and interest in epidemiological, biostatistical and public health research in Canada. The Department comprises a diverse and vibrant community of scholars. It offers a dynamic research environment and is one of the top academic units in its field in the world. McGill University recently approved the creation of a School of Population and Global Health that promotes values of equity, diversity and social justice and the successful candidate will play an important role in the School’s development.  The department is proud to host a respectful, multi-disciplinary and inclusive work setting in its multiple areas of activity, which includes the training of a diverse group of students.
The successful candidate who satisfies the eligibility conditions of the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program may be supported by the University for nomination to a Tier 2 Chair in public and population health, which provides protected time for research within a full-time academic appointment.

The Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, invites applications for a tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Public and Population Health. McGill University was founded in 1819 and is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in
the world and among the top three in Canada. McGill is located in Montreal
(http://www.montrealinternational.com/en/), a diverse multiethnic city with a sparkling cultural life. Montreal has been selected numerous times as the best city for students in North America. Montreal is safe, housing costs are among the lowest for cities of comparable size, and overall quality of life is
 
The Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health is home to one of the largest concentrations of Faculty with expertise and interest in epidemiological, biostatistical and public health research in Canada. The Department comprises a diverse and vibrant community of scholars. It offers a dynamic research environment and is one of the top academic units in its field in the world. McGill University recently approved the creation of a School of Population and Global Health that promotes values of equity, diversity and social justice and the successful candidate will play an important role in the School’s development.  The department is proud to host a respectful, multi-disciplinary and inclusive work setting in its multiple areas of activity, which includes the training of a diverse group of students.

The successful candidate who satisfies the eligibility conditions of the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program may be supported by the University for nomination to a Tier 2 Chair in public and population health, which provides protected time for research within a full-time academic appointment.

7. Interesting news

Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories

How is your country doing with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals? Check out this publication by  Global Health Metrics – Lancet 2018; 392:2091-138
Published online: 28 May 2018

Background: Efforts to establish the 2015 baseline and monitor early implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight both great potential for and threats to improving health by 2030. To fully deliver on the SDG aim of “leaving no one behind”, it is increasingly important to examine the health-related SDGs beyond national-level estimates. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017), we measured progress on 41 of 52 health-related SDG indicators and estimated the health-related SDG index for 195 countries and territories for the period 1990–2017, projected indicators to 2030, and analysed global attainment.
 
Methods: We measured progress on 41 health-related SDG indicators from 1990 to 2017, an increase of four indicators since GBD 2016 (new indicators were health worker density, sexual violence by non-intimate partners, population census status, and prevalence of physical and sexual violence [reported separately]). We also improved the measurement of several previously reported indicators. We constructed national-level estimates and, for a subset of health-related SDGs, examined indicator -level differences by sex and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile. We also did subnational assessments of performance for selected countries. To construct the health-related SDG index, we transformed the value for each indicator on a scale of 0–100, with 0 as the 2·5th percentile and 100 as the 97·5th percentile of 1000 draws calculated from 1990 to 2030, and took the geometric mean of the scaled indicators by target. To generate projections through 2030, we used a forecasting framework that drew estimates from the broader GBD study and used weighted averages of indicator -specific and country-specific annualised rates of change from 1990 to 2017 to inform future estimates. We assessed attainment of indicators with defined targets in two ways: first, using mean values projected for 2030, and then using the probability of attainment in 2030 calculated from 1000 draws. We also did a global attainment analysis of the feasibility of attaining SDG targets on the basis of past trends. Using 2015 global averages of indicators with defined SDG targets, we calculated the global annualised rates of change required from 2015 to 2030 to meet these targets, and then identified in what percentiles the required global annualised rates of change fell in the distribution of country-level rates of change from 1990 to 2015. We took the mean of these global percentile values across indicators and applied the past rate of change at this mean global percentile to all health-related SDG indicators, irrespective of target definition, to estimate the equivalent 2030 global average value and percentage change from 2015 to 2030 for each indicator.
 
Findings: The global median health-related SDG index in 2017 was 59·4 (IQR 35·4–67·3), ranging from a low of 11·6 (95% uncertainty interval 9·6–14·0) to a high of 84·9 (83·1–86·7). SDG index values in countries assessed at the subnational level varied substantially, particularly in China and India, although scores in Japan and the UK were more homogeneous. Indicators also varied by SDI quintile and sex, with males having worse outcomes than females for non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality, alcohol use, and smoking, among others. Most countries were projected to have a higher health-related SDG index in 2030 than in 2017, while country-level probabilities of attainment by 2030 varied widely by indicator. Under -5 mortality, neonatal mortality, maternal mortality ratio, and malaria indicators had the most countries with at least 95% probability of target attainment. Other indicators, including NCD mortality and suicide mortality, had no countries projected to meet corresponding SDG targets on the basis of projected mean values for 2030 but showed some probability of attainment by 2030. For some indicators, including child malnutrition, several infectious diseases, and most violence measures, the annualised rates of change required to meet SDG targets far exceeded the pace of progress achieved by any country in the recent past. We found that applying the mean global annualised rate of change to indicators without defined targets would equate to about 19% and 22% reductions in global smoking and alcohol consumption, respectively; a 47% decline in adolescent birth rates; and a more than 85% increase in health worker density per 1000 population by 2030.

8. Upcoming courses and conferences

Going International is the first source for finding courses, seminars, congresses and other events in the fields of medicine & health. Going International is Europe’s biggest service provider and information platform and serves as an interface between organisers and participants of events. Going International is an official partner of EUPHA.

9. Interesting publications

A new opportunity after migraine treatment failure?

Anywhere, anytime: children's exposure to alcohol marketing

Fatal Measles Virus Infection After Rituximab-Containing Chemotherapy in a Previously Vaccinated Patient

Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study

GBD 2017: a fragile world

Cost-effectiveness of a complex intervention to reduce children's exposure to second-hand smoke in the home

Working Adults without Paid Sick Leave Report more Worries about Finances

The when, where and what of air pollutant exposure

The first World Flu Day, Nov 1

Reducing the global burden of depression: a Lancet-World Psychiatric Association Commission

Disentangling the burden of disease in the UK: what now?

A randomised controlled trial examining the efficacy of smoking-related response inhibition training in smokers: a study protocol

Organized screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer in 17 EU countries: trajectories of attendance rates

Measures that increase social equality are effective in improving life satisfaction in times of economic crisis

Trajectories of work disability and unemployment among young adults with common mental disorders

Socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle-related factors associated with unhealthy diet: a cross-sectional study of university students

Yelp reviews reveal strengths and weaknesses of emergency departments and urgent care

Design and implementation of RESCUR in Sweden for promoting resilience in children: a study protocol

Public health and the workplace: a new era dawns

The usefulness of small-area-based socioeconomic characteristics in assessing the treatment outcomes of type 2 diabetes patients: a register-based mixed-effect study

A qualitative study of the drivers of socioeconomic inequalities in men's eating behaviours

The effects of the European e-cigarette health warnings and comparative health messages on non-smokers' and smokers' risk perceptions and behavioural intentions

Shift work and cognitive impairment in later life - results of a cross-sectional pilot study testing the feasibility of a large-scale epidemiologic investigation

Stemming the Superbug Tide - just a few dollars more

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-iss...

Looking beyond the Decade of Vaccines

10. European Commission news

Non-communicable diseases

Flash report - First formal meeting of the Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (6 November 2017).

EU Health Policy Platform Holds Third Annual Meeting

The EU Health Policy Platform held its third annual meeting in Brussels on Monday 12 November.

Health Commissioner Awards 3 NGOs for Outstanding Initiatives on Prevention of Tobacco Use

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, announced the winners of the 2018 EU Health Award for NGOs Working to Prevent Tobacco Use.

Stand up and take a bow - the Health-EU Award encourages and rewards NGOs in the field of health

Jury Member Dr Isabel de la Mata, the Principal Adviser for Health and Crisis Management in the European Commission, talks about the award just days after the 2018 prize ceremony held on 12 November in Brussels

4th Conference on European Reference Networks held in Brussels

This two-day event brought together more than 400 participants, such as the representatives of EU and national institutions, healthcare providers and medical professionals, and patients' representatives to discuss the results so far and the challenges ahead.

11. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news

Eurosurveillance - Volume 23, Issue 44, 01 November 2018

Rapid communication
Upsurge in echovirus 30 detections in five EU/EEA countries, April to September, 2018
 
Surveillance and outbreak report
An unusual outbreak of norovirus associated with a Halloween-themed swimming pool party in England, 2016
Characterisation of HIV-1 transmission clusters and drug-resistant mutations in Denmark, 2004 to 2016
Creating a web-based electronic tool to aid tuberculosis (TB) cluster investigation: data integration in TB surveillance activities in the United Kingdom, 2013 to 2016

Eurosurveillance - Volume 23, Issue 45, 08 November 2018

Surveillance and outbreak report
Tick-borne encephalitis in Europe, 2012 to 2016
Research article
Echovirus type 6 transmission clusters and the role of environmental surveillance in early warning, the Netherlands, 2007 to 2016
High rates of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among asylum seekers and refugees admitted to Helsinki University Hospital, 2010 to 2017
High prevalence of carriage of mcr-1-positive enteric bacteria among healthy children from rural communities in the Chaco region, Bolivia, September to October 2016
Congenital brain abnormalities during a Zika virus epidemic in Salvador, Brazil, April 2015 to July 2016

Eurosurveillance - Volume 23, Issue 46, 15 November 2018

Editorial
Antimicrobials in acute and long-term care: a point in time along the way to improved use
Rapid communication
Prospective enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) surveillance from September 2015 to November 2018 indicates a current wave of activity in Wales
Severe enterovirus A71 associated hand, foot and mouth disease, Vietnam, 2018: preliminary report of an impending outbreak
Surveillance and outbreak report
Antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals: results from the second point prevalence survey (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use, 2016 to 2017
Antimicrobial use in European long-term care facilities: results from the third point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use, 2016 to 2017
Surveillance
Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections, estimated incidence and composite antimicrobial resistance index in acute care hospitals and long-term care facilities: results from two European point prevalence surveys, 2016 to 2017
Surveillance and outbreak report
Antimicrobial prescribing in long-term care facilities: a nationwide point-prevalence study, Slovenia, 2016
Research article
Antimicrobial prescribing and infections in long-term care facilities (LTCF): a multilevel analysis of the HALT 2016 study, Ireland, 2017

Eurosurveillance - Volume 23, Issue 47, 22 November 2018

Editorial
Polio eradication: next steps and future challenges
Rapid communication
Multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolate, belonging to the internationally spreading Japanese FC428 clone, with ceftriaxone resistance and intermediate resistance to azithromycin, Ireland, August 2018
Surveillance and outbreak report
Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance: challenges and opportunities from 18 years’ experience, Spain, 1998 to 2015
Arbovirus surveillance: first dengue virus detection in local Aedes albopictusmosquitoes in Europe, Catalonia, Spain, 2015
Research article
A comparison of two biological markers of recent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: implications for the monitoring of interventions and strategies to reduce HCV transmission among people who inject drugs
Impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines introduction on antibiotic resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis in children aged 5 years or younger, Israel, 2004 to 2016

12. WHO news

Revitalizing primary health care for the 21st century

Report on the Global Conference on Primary Health Care, which took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 25–26 October 2018.

Simulated poliovirus containment breach helps countries increase biorisk safety and security

Preparing for biosafety accidents helps to prevent them and limit their impact should they occur. In the WHO European Region, 12 countries plan to keep polioviruses for vaccine manufacturing or critical research purposes after the virus is no longer circulating anywhere in the wild; to do so, they must apply for certification of a poliovirus essential facility (PEF), where the materials can be safely stored and contained [...] continue reading...

European Testing Week 2018

Now in its 6th year since the launch in 2013 and the 4th year since hepatitis testing has been included, European Testing Week will take place on 23–30 November 2018.

This newsletter received funding under an operating grant from the European Union’s Health Programme (2014-2020). The content of this newsletter represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.