Newsletter – January 2024

1. Editorial
2. EUPHA update
3. European Public Health Week
4. European Public Health Conference
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 Institutions’ news
11. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news
12. WHO news

1. Editorial

Dear EUPHA Community,

It’s with a mix of gratitude and fondness that we share the news of Maaike, our Deputy Director, bidding farewell after seven remarkable years at EUPHA. In her own words, “After seven inspiring years at EUPHA, the time has come for me to say goodbye. The memories of our collaborations, including EU projects, publications, and science-based advocacy, will stay with me as I embark on new endeavors.”
Maaike has been an invaluable part of our journey, contributing dedication and passion. As we say goodbye, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her impactful service.

2024 is pivotal, with elections in the EU Parliament and across various countries. We recognize it as a unique opportunity to advocate for the prioritization of health on political agendas.At EUPHA, we are committed in carrying forward our dedication to advocating for evidence-based policies across all our thematic areas.

As we navigate the landscape of 2024, our work is also to be seen through the lens provided by the EPH conference’s theme: Innovation. How to ensure that Public Health principles, starting with equity and community participation,  are seamlessly integrated into innovation’s frameworks? Let’s also remember that innovation extends beyond digitalization; it encompasses novel methods. Health in All Policies remains a cornerstone of our strategy. Therefore, our advocacy aims not only to engage with the health community but also to reach all stakeholders influencing health determinants. Let’s employ innovative methods to make our message more transversal, resonating with a broader audience.

Warm regards,

Dr Iveta Nagyova, EUPHA President, and Charlotte Marchandise, Executive Director

2. EUPHA update

EUPHA/EPH Conference Chief Finance and Administration Officer

EUPHA and EPH Conference are seeking a qualified and dynamic Chief Finance and Administration Officer part-time (m/f/o) to join our team in Utrecht.

• Location : Utrecht, Netherlands.
• Partial remote work is possible, expected to be in the office at least 1 day per week (Tuesday or Thursday) and to participate to annual meetings (3/4 per year).
• Fixed-term appointment for one year.
• 24 to 32 hours per week to be discussed.
• Estimated salary 4400 gross on a 32 hours basis, to be discussed based on working hours and experience, plus benefits (holiday allowance, 13^th month, travel compensation).

Check out the position here.

Health must stay high on the political agenda!

The EU4Health Civil Society Alliance gethering more than 30 health civil society organisations, including EUPHA, has defined its priorities and recommendations ahead of the upcoming European elections in 2024, with the overarching goal of securing health on the EU political agenda. The manifesto gathers 10 key priorities, focusing on strengthening EU policymaking in public health, delivering stronger policies improving public health, and breaking policy silos.
As the EU Elections approach and manifestos are designed, MEPs must ensure health remains a priority in the next mandate! Sign here.

Upcoming EUPHA webinars

Right to health, public health and climate change
February 20, 14:00-16:00 GMT (London); 15:00-17:00 CET (Brussels, Geneva)
Organised by: the Faculty of Public Health (UK), UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Geneva, Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH), Groningen Centre for Health Law, and EUPHA
This webinar will include a presentation by Alicia El Yamin, distinguished scholar, author and advocate from Harvard University, Maja Groff, international lawyer based in the Hague and Convenor, Climate Governance Commission, Marlies Hesselman, from the University of Groningen Centre for Law, Benjamin Schachter, Human rights Officer at OCHR, as discussants and Panelists. 

Register in advance here.

A national and sub-national analysis of diabetes mellitus prevalence and health inequalities in Europe
Febuary 29, 16:00-17:00 CET
Organised by: EUPHA Chronic diseases section 
Presenters: 

• Orsolya Varga, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen; Syreon Research Institute, Budapest
• Nour Mahrouseh, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen
• Carlos Alexandre Soares Andrade, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen

Register in advance here.

More information about EUPHA webinars are available here.

3. European Public Health Week

Almost two billion people in 50 countries around the world will head to the polls this year (or already have), more than in any other year in history. This includes the 2024 European Parliament (EP) election, scheduled to be held from 6 to 9 June 2024, when 400 million Europeans will be able to cast their vote. Next to the EP elections, 15 European countries will hold presidential and parliamentary elections in 2024. 

In line with this, the 2024 European Public Health Week (EUPHW), which will take place from 13 -17 May, will focus on an important notion that public health is a political choice. Traditionally, for the EUPHW, a lot of emphasis will also be put on topics of mental health, climate change, lifelong health and public health leaders of tomorrow…

Save the dates (13 – 17 May 2024) and stay tuned for detailed information on the 2024 European Public Health Week during February!

#EUPHW2024 

4. European Public Health Conference

17^th EPH CONFERENCE LISBON 2024 – SAILING THE WAVES OF EUROPEAN PUBLIC HEALTH: EXPLORING A SEA OF INNOVATION

Next webinar ‘Sailing to Lisbon 2024’: 16 February 2024, 11:00 CET

Join us for our monthly webinar series titled ‘Sailing to Lisbon 2024’ on 16 February, 11:00 CET. Theme of the second webinar: Health Inequalities. Moderator: João Paulo Magalhães (Portugal). Speakers will be announced shortly. Click here for the programme and access to the webinar.

Abstract submission opens 1 February

Abstract submission for the 17^th EPH Conference 2024 is open from 1 February noon CET until 1 May 2024, 18:00 CET. Abstracts are invited for workshops, oral presentations, pitch presentations and ePosters. All sessions will be 60 minutes. Do not miss the opportunity to be recognized for your hard work. Learn from each other and share your knowledge with others. More information here.

Abstract tutoring programme

EPH Conference and EUPHAnxt offer an Abstract Tutoring Programme providing an opportunity for young and/or less experienced abstract submitters to receive feedback from experienced reviewers. The programme is targeted at researchers who have limited access to colleagues to ask for guidance and comments on their proposed abstracts. More information here.

Registration

Registration for the 17th EPH Conference opens 1 April 2024. Registration fees will be announced on our website.

Theme and programme

The 17^th EPH Conference will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 12 – 15 November 2024. Note that from 2024 onwards main EPH Conferences will be held from Wednesday to Friday. Pre-conferences will be held on Tuesday 12 November. The main conference is from 13 – 15 November. Theme of the EPH conference 2024 is: Sailing the waves of European public health: exploring a sea of innovation. The conference will be held at the Lisbon Congress Center (CCL). Read more here.

5. European Journal of Public Health

Advance articles

Is the long-term poor prognosis of acute myocardial infarction in patients with mental illness mediated through their poor adherence with recommended healthcare? 
Giovanni Corrao and others
Area-level excess mortality in times of COVID-19 in Switzerland: geographical, socioeconomic and political determinants 
Julien Riou and others
Contact tracing in Austria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic: response review and good practices 
Ahmed Taha Aboushady and others
Divergent effects of switching from cytology to HPV-based screening in the Nordic countries 
Veli-Matti Partanen and others
Preferences for innovations in healthcare delivery models in the Swiss elderly population: a latent class, choice modelling study 
Anna Nicolet and others
Examining potential Long COVID effects through utilization of healthcare resources: a retrospective, population-based, matched cohort study comparing individuals with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection 
Luigi Castriotta and others
Direct mailing of HPV self-sampling kits to women aged 50–65 non-participating in cervical screening in the Czech Republic
Ondřej Ngo and others
Public health role in litigation to address climate change 
Giovanna Mazzola and others
Long-term impact of parenting-related leave policies on adolescents’ well-being: a systematic review of quasi-experiments 
Hande Tugrul and others
Understanding the health system barriers and enablers to childhood MMR and HPV vaccination among disadvantaged, minority or underserved populations in middle- and high-income countries: a systematic review 
Jumanah Essa-Hadad and others
Exploring sex variations in the incidence of cardiovascular events: a counterfactual decomposition analysis 
Sara Castel-Feced and others
Trends of perceived disruption in healthcare services during the pandemic: findings from the COVID-19 National Resilience Cohort in Iceland 
Yue Wang and others
European Journal of Public Health, Risk of unemployment and work disability among refugee and non-refugee migrants with incident psychotic disorders in Sweden and Denmark 
Suborna Mastafa and others
Metabolic syndrome and poor self-rated health as risk factors for premature employment exit: a longitudinal study among 55 016 middle-aged and older workers from the Lifelines Cohort Study and Biobank 
Katharina Runge and others
Implementation of climate adaptation in the public health sector in Europe: qualitative thematic analysis 
Grace A Turner and others
An analysis of COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ukraine 
Tetiana Vasylivna Mamontova
Associations between neighbourhood characteristics, physical activity and depressive symptoms: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study 
Nina Rautio and others
Prevalence, diagnostic delay and economic burden of endometriosis and its impact on quality of life: results from an Eastern Mediterranean population 
Bethan Swift and others
Association between active commuting and low-grade inflammation: a population-based cross-sectional study 
Sara Allaouat and others

6. Call for proposals, job opportunities

Director Master of Public Health Program Western University London, Ontario Canada

Western University invites applications for the position of Director, Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health (https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/publichealth/). This Program at Western is unique amongst North American Public Health Programs in providing an innovative case-based curriculum with a focus on teamwork, leadership, sustainability, and policy both in the Canadian context and globally. The current intensive one-year Masters in Public Health curriculum prepares tomorrow’s public health leaders through classroom experience, practicums and community-engaged learning facilitated by strong connections to local, national, and global public health organizations including the Middlesex-London Health Unit, Public Health Ontario, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Pan-American Health Organization, and the World Health Organization.
Click here for more information.

7. Interesting news

How can EU scale-up action on non-communicable disease prevention?

This EuroHealth article proposes:

• Implement Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
  Address cross-sectoral nature of #NCDs (wellbeing economy, health & food)
  Look at NCD prevention policies through a commercial determinants lens
  
• Health literacy can help counter disinformation

Only half of the countries in Europe have policies to improve digital health literacy, leaving room for false medical information to spread. WHO/Europe’s David Novillo explains how health literacy can help counter disinformation in this USA Today article.

8. Upcoming courses and conferences

9. Interesting publications

Ambient greenness, access to local green spaces, and subsequent mental health: a 10-year longitudinal dynamic panel study of 2·3 million adults in Wales

The Lancet Planetary Health | October 2023
One of the largest ever studies into how green and blue spaces affect mental health has found every 360m further a person is from greenness increases their odds of anxiety and depression.

The path to a European Health Union

The Lancet Regional Health – Europe | January 2024
The European Union has historically left health policy decisions to individual member states, cooperating only on issues like cross-border healthcare and medicine safety. However, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for collective action across borders. In response, in October 2020, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the creation of a “European Health Union”. In this contribution McKee and De Ruijter propose a path forward in terms of content and process for developing a more comprehensive vision on the policy content and the process.

Identifying disease-specific patient and societal needs to foster needs-driven healthcare and innovation policies in the EU

EuroHealth | 16 January 2024
Healthcare policy decisions in the European Union are largely supply-driven. To move towards needs-driven healthcare innovation and policy, patient and societal needs should be defined upfront and subsequently guide decisions of researchers, research funders, regulators and health technology assessment bodies. This article argues that the EU pharmaceutical regulation, EU HTA regulation and EU research funding programmes can stimulate this effort.

10. European Institutions’ news

About RespiCast: the new European Respiratory Diseases Forecasting Hub

Launched at the end of 2023, the European Respiratory Diseases Forecasting Hub (RespiCast) serves as a platform for real-time forecasts of respiratory disease activity and burden. Its aim is to provide decision-makers, public health bodies and the public with reliable and timely information on the short-term epide-miological trajectory of respiratory illnesses across Europe. Visit respicast.ecdc.europa.eu for more information and to participate in this initiative.

Human medicines: EMA highlights of 2023

EMA published its overview report ‘Human medicines highlights 2023‘ that includes figures on the authorisation of medicines and a selection of new treatments that represent significant progress in their therapeutic areas.
In 2023, EMA recommended 77 medicines for marketing authorisation.

Meeting EU environment policy targets by 2030 will be challenging

The EU 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) builds on the European Green Deal and sets the framework for EU environmental policy until 2030. European Environment Agency’s first monitoring report on the progress towards the 8th EAP objectives takes stock of progress towards Europe’s key environment and climate goals, based on 28 indicators and monitoring targets. The report shows that the EU may not meet most of the monitoring targets: stronger implementation by the Member States of existing laws, additional measures, and mainstreaming climate and environment in other policy domains are needed for faster progress. It is the first of the series to be published annually until 2030. More details can be found in the recently published Monitoring report on progress towards the 8th EAP objectives 2023 edition.

Past events of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

Future-proof health systems: Fostering transformation, performance & resilience, 24 Jan Public debate on the future health priorities of the European Union #1

Building on value-based health care: Towards a health system perspective, 30 Jan

Placing people at the centre: Patients, citizens & health workers, 31 Jan  Public debate on the future health priorities of the European Union #2 

11. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news

Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 4, 25 January 2024

Rapid communication
Increased incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections and hospital admissions in the Netherlands, November to December 2023
Dita C Bolluyt, Sjoerd M Euser, Dennis Souverein, Annemarie MC van Rossum, Jayant Kalpoe, Mireille van Westreenen, Marco Goeijenbier, Dominic Snijders, Dirk Eggink, Femke Jongenotter, Steven FL van Lelyveld and Marlies A van Houten
Impact of nirsevimab prophylaxis on paediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related hospitalisations during the initial 2023/24 season in Luxembourg
Corinna Ernst, Dritan Bejko, Leo Gaasch, Emilie Hannelas, Isaline Kahn, Charlotte Pierron, Nesrine Del Lero, Claude Schalbar, Elsa Do Carmo, Michel Kohnen, Emmanuelle Andlauer, Pauline Hublart, Silvana Masi, Isabel de la Fuente Garcia, Anne Vergison and Joël Mossong

Surveillance
Re-emergence of human leishmaniasis in northern Italy, 2004 to 2022: a retrospective analysis
Renato Todeschini, Muriel Assunta Musti, Paolo Pandolfi, Mattea Troncatti, Morena Baldini, Davide Resi, Silvano Natalini, Federica Bergamini, Giorgio Galletti, Annalisa Santi, Arianna Rossi, Gianluca Rugna, Bianca Granozzi, Luciano Attard, Valeria Gaspari, Giovanna Liguori, Margherita Ortalli and Stefania Varani
Age-dependent influenza infection patterns and subtype circulation in Denmark, in seasons 2015/16 to 2021/22
Hanne-Dorthe Emborg, Amanda Bolt Botnen, Jens Nielsen, Lasse S. Vestergaard, Frederikke Kristensen Lomholt, Charlotte Munkstrup, Karina Lauenborg Møller, Charlotte Kjelsø, Steen Hulthin Rasmussen and Ramona Trebbien

Letter
Letter to the editor: Added value of backward contact tracing for COVID-19
Graham Fraser, Gareth Hughes, Simon Packer, Obaghe Edeghere and Isabel Oliver
Authors’ response: Added value of backward contact tracing for COVID-19
Timo Louis Boelsums, Maaike Buskermolen and on behalf of all co-authors of the original article

Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 3, 18 January 2024

Rapid communication
A case of swine influenza A(H1N2)v in England, November 2023
Jade Cogdale, Beatrix Kele, Richard Myers, Ruth Harvey, Abi Lofts, Tanya Mikaiel, Katja Hoschler, Ashley C Banyard, Joe James, Benjamin C Mollett, Alexander MP Byrne, Jamie Lopez-Bernal, and others
Effectiveness of the adapted bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalisation in individuals aged ≥ 60 years during the Omicron XBB lineage-predominant period: VEBIS SARI VE network, Europe, February to August, 2023
Liliana Antunes, Clara Mazagatos, Iván Martínez-Baz, Verónica Gomez, Maria-Louise Borg, Goranka Petrović, Róisín Duffy, François E Dufrasne, Ralf Dürrwald, Mihaela Lazar, Ligita Jancoriene, and others

Outbreaks
Ralstonia pickettii bloodstream infections with potential genomic link to internationally distributed contaminated saline solution, Germany, October 2023
Manuel Krone, Vera Rauschenberger, Vera Blaschke, Heike Claus, Oliver Kurzai and Stefanie Kampmeier

Research
Early-onset group B streptococcal infections in five Nordic countries with different prevention policies, 1995 to 2019
Verna Björklund, Harri Saxén, Olof Hertting, Emma Louise Malchau Carlsen, Steen Hoffmann, Stellan Håkansson, Valtýr Stefánsson Thors, Ásgeir Haraldsson, Anne Karin Brigtsen, Henrik Döllner, and others
Time trends and modifiable factors of COVID-19 contact tracing coverage, Geneva, Switzerland, June 2020 to February 2022
Denis Mongin, Nils Bürgisser, the Covid-SMC Study Group and Delphine Sophie Courvoisier

Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 2, 11 January 2024

Editorial
Where are we now?
Eurosurveillance editorial team

Rapid communication
Humoral immune escape by current SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.2.86 and JN.1, December 2023
Lara M Jeworowski, Barbara Mühlemann, Felix Walper, Marie L Schmidt, Jenny Jansen, Andi Krumbholz, Etienne Simon-Lorière, Terry C Jones, Victor M Corman and Christian Drosten
Early influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates using routinely collected data, Alberta, Canada, 2023/24 season
Christa Smolarchuk, Carla Ickert, Nathan Zelyas, Jeffrey C Kwong and Sarah A Buchan
Mycoplasma pneumoniae epidemic in Denmark, October to December, 2023
Anne Christine Nordholm, Bolette Søborg, Pikka Jokelainen, Karina Lauenborg Møller, Lotte Flink Sørensen, Tyra Grove Krause, Søren Anker Uldum and Hanne-Dorthe Emborg
Increase of respiratory illnesses among children in Beijing, China, during the autumn and winter of 2023
Cheng Gong, Fang Huang, Luodan Suo, Xuejiao Guan, Lu Kang, Hui Xie, Geng Hu, Peng Yang and Quanyi Wang

Research
Impact of sex and gender on post-COVID-19 syndrome, Switzerland, 2020
Caroline E Gebhard, Claudia Sütsch, Pimrapat Gebert, Bianca Gysi, Susan Bengs, Atanas Todorov, Manja Deforth, Philipp K Buehler, Alexander Meisel, Reto A Schuepbach, and others
Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and vaccination coverage of tick-borne encephalitis, Sweden, 2018 to 2019
Bo Albinsson, Tove Hoffman, Linda Kolstad, Tomas Bergström, Gordana Bogdanovic, Anna Heydecke, Mirja Hägg, Torbjörn Kjerstadius, Ylva Lindroth, Annika Petersson, Marie Stenberg, Sirkka Vene, Patrik Ellström, Bengt Rönnberg and Åke Lundkvist

Eurosurveillance – Volume 29, Issue 1, 04 January 2024

Rapid communication
Early COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness of XBB.1.5 vaccine against hospitalisation and admission to intensive care, the Netherlands, 9 October to 5 December 2023
C Henri van Werkhoven, Anne-Wil Valk, Bente Smagge, Hester E de Melker, Mirjam J Knol, Susan JM Hahné  Susan van den Hof and Brechje de Gier
Relative vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalisation in persons aged ≥ 65 years: results from a VEBIS network, Europe, October 2021 to July 2023
Mario Fontán-Vela, Esther Kissling, Nathalie Nicolay, Toon Braeye, Izaak Van Evercooren, Christian Holm ansen, Hanne-Dorthe Emborg, Massimo Fabiani, Alberto Mateo-Urdiales, Ala’a AlKerwi, and others
Increased number of cryptosporidiosis cases with travel history to Croatia might be related to swimming pools, Germany, 2023
Anja Schoeps, Klara Röbl, Nicole Walter, Andrea Neute, Bernadette Walter, Inga Freudenau, Annette Jurke, Christiane Klier, Petra Heinmüller, Syamend Saeed, Jasmin Metz, Hendrik Wilking and Philipp Zanger

Outbreaks
Multinational collaboration in solving a European Salmonella Braenderup outbreak linked to imported melons, 2021
Hannah L Moore, Martine Aabye, Ann Hoban, Bettina Rosner, Stine K Lefevre, Eva Litrup, Luise Müller, Steen Ethelberg, Sandra Simon, Sooria Balasegaram, Lesley Larkin, Cecilia Jernberg, Johanna Takkinen and EU/EEA/UK S. Braenderup Outbreak Investigation Group

Research
Inventory study on completeness of tuberculosis case notifications in Poland in 2018
Teresa Domaszewska, Maria Korzeniewska-Kosela, Barbara Hauer, Nita Perumal, Stefan Wesolowski, Walter Haas and Stefan Kroeger

12. WHO news

WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2030

A decrease in prevelance is reported, but the progress is too slow compared to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – target 3.a under  the Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Moreover, the European Region is projected for highest rates globally by 2030 with 23% of tobacco users.  Learn more in the WHO Global Tobacco Trends Report 2024.

Health and care workforce in Europe: time to act

All countries of the WHO European Region currently face severe challenges related to the health and careworkforce (‎HCWF)‎. This report focuses on identifying effective policy and planning responses to these HCWF challenges across the Region. The report presents an overview of the HCWF situation in the Region (‎focusing onmedical doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists and physiotherapists, for whom data are available) ‎and identifies relevant policy options, their expected benefits and potential facilitators or barriers to successful implementation.

COVID-19 vaccinations have saved more than 1.4 million lives in the WHO European Region, a new study finds

Since their introduction in December 2020, COVID-19 vaccines have reduced deaths due to the pandemic by at least 57%, saving more than 1.4 million lives in the WHO European Region. Most of those saved were aged 60 or older, the group at highest risk of severe illness and death from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The first vaccine booster alone saved 700 000 lives.
These are among the findings of a new WHO/Europe study revealing that today’s known COVID-19 death toll in the Region, currently at 2.5 million, might be as high as 4 million without the vaccines. 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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