Industry Overview - The report focuses on the integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses, including influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, within the EU/EEA and the wider WHO European Region [15] - The primary aim is to support timely and complete reporting of key information for respiratory virus surveillance, including influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and other emerging viral diseases of public health concern [16] - The objectives include monitoring the intensity, geographical spread, and temporal patterns of respiratory virus infections, as well as assessing the impact on healthcare systems and vaccine effectiveness [17][18][19] Data Collection and Reporting - Data collection is integrated for most datasets, with a focus on syndromic data (ILI/ARI) and lab-confirmed infections by specified pathogens [20] - Sentinel data should be prioritized, while non-sentinel data should be reported as complementary, especially when sentinel data is missing or insufficient [20] - Record types include INFLCLINAGGR for primary care syndromic data, RESPIAGGR for lab-confirmed detections, and RESPISEVERE for hospital and ICU indicators [21][22][23] - Case-based data for severe cases, including hospitalizations and ICU admissions, should be reported via RESPISURV, while SARI cases are reported via SARISURV [24][25] Metadata Changes - Significant updates have been made to metadata sets, including the addition of new variables such as RSVtype and RSV vaccination variables, and the removal of outdated variables like NCoVVacFirstDose and NCoVVacFirstBrand [4] - Changes to INFLSARIAGGR include the addition of unknown age cases and the deletion of total cases for various indicators, such as SARI admissions and deaths [5] - SARISURVDENOM metadata has been updated to include unknown age cases for SARI admissions and hospital admission denominators, while total cases have been removed [6] Reporting Protocols - The reporting protocol provides guidelines for data managers on how to prepare and submit data to TESSy, including deadlines for data submission and links to further information [10] - Data can be entered directly into EpiPulse Cases or uploaded in CSV/XML format, with specific formatting requirements for fields such as dates and coded values [32][33][34] - Metadata compliance is automatically checked during the data upload process, with immediate feedback on validation results [40] Surveillance Objectives and Data Mapping - Surveillance objectives are mapped to specific record types and data sources, with sentinel data prioritized for monitoring intensity, geographical spread, and temporal patterns of respiratory virus infections [29] - Non-sentinel data is used as complementary information, particularly for monitoring severity, risk factors, and the impact on healthcare systems [29] - Detailed analysis using a combination of reported record types can address objectives such as describing the burden of disease and assessing vaccine effectiveness [19]

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry [3]. Core Insights - In 2020, 24 EU/EEA countries reported 4,164 confirmed cryptosporidiosis cases, with a notification rate of 1.7 cases per 100,000 population, the lowest in the past five years [3][10]. - The decrease in reported cases is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the absence of data from the United Kingdom, which accounted for over 40% of cases prior to its withdrawal from the EU [18]. - The highest notification rate was observed in children aged 0-4 years, with 5.4 cases per 100,000 population, although this was about one-third of the rate seen in previous years [3][10]. Summary by Sections Introduction - Cryptosporidiosis is an acute diarrheal disease caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium, affecting various animals and humans [4]. Methods - The report is based on data from The European Surveillance System (TESSy) collected on November 5, 2021 [5]. Epidemiology - Germany reported the highest number of cases (1,175), followed by Sweden (641), Finland (571), and Ireland (511) [10]. - The notification rate in 2020 decreased by 51.4% compared to 2019, which had a rate of 3.5 cases per 100,000 population [10]. Outbreaks and Other Threats - No outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis were reported in 2020 [17]. Discussion - The significant drop in cases in 2020 is linked to the absence of UK data and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on reporting and diagnostics [18]. - The infection is primarily acquired through recreational waters and contact with farm animals [18]. Public Health Implications - Increased laboratory testing and better reporting are essential for understanding the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis [19]. - Public awareness campaigns are recommended to minimize the risk of infection, especially among vulnerable populations [19].