Surveillance report on invasive bacterial diseases in Europe for 2008-2009

This report describes the epidemiology of invasive bacterial diseases due to Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis in the European Union Member States in 2008 and 2009. Out of the 30 EU/EEA Member States, 29 submitted data. The majority of participating countries have a passive and compulsory surveillance system in place for both diseases. In 2008–2009, 9 615 cases of invasive bacterial disease due to N. meningitidis were notified in the EU/EEA. Meningococcal disease appears to be rare in the majority of Member States. The two most affected countries were Ireland and the UK, although in both countries there is a sustained declining trend. A total of 3 572 cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease were reported in 2008 and 2009. The notification rates varied across the Member States and the rates in the Nordic countries, in particular Sweden and Norway, were higher compared to the rest of Europe.