Risk assessment: Increased Cryptosporidium infections in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Germany in 2012

An increase in cryptosporidiosis notifications has been observed in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany since August 2012 that is likely to be real, and not due to surveillance or notification artefacts. The overall threat for the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) is considered to be low. EU/EEA Member States should be alert to an increase in cases as observed in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany, particularly in relation to immunocompromised and other at-risk groups as they may present with a more severe manifestation of cryptosporidiosis.