Episodes

  • Episode 61 - Maria Keramarou - The Big Measles Comeback
    May 2 2025

    In this episode of ECDC: On Air, Maria Keramarou, ECDC's expert in vaccine-preventable diseases, discusses the rising cases of measles in Europe.

    We explore the highly contagious nature of measles, the importance of vaccination, the resurgence of cases post-COVID, and the challenges of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

    Learn more about the European Immunization Week on our dedicated page here.

    Find all the information about vaccinations in YOUR language on the European Vaccination Information Portal.

    For more information about ECDC in general, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ecdc.europa.eu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠.

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    21 mins
  • Episode 60 - Charlotte Deogan - Europe's SDG Reality Check
    Apr 23 2025

    In this episode, we explore Europe's progress toward the 2030 SDGs with Charlotte Deogan, expert in communicable diseases at ECDC.

    This episode unpacks SDG Target 3.3, which aims to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and combat viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections by 2030.

    As ECDC releases its first comprehensive monitoring report on the SDGs, we discuss the EU/EEA's current status and whether we are on track.

    ECDC’s reports and other work on the SDGs can be found here. For more information about ECDC in general, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ecdc.europa.eu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media.

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    16 mins
  • Episode 59 - Veronica Cristea - Beyond numbers: Understanding TB
    Mar 24 2025

    Marking World TB Day 2025, this episode explores the data on tuberculosis in Europe based on the latest surveillance report, published recently by ECDC and WHO.

    Veronica Cristea, Scientific Officer at ECDC, discusses the overall TB situation in the EU/EEA, the impact of COVID-19, challenges in treatment success, and the concerning rise in TB cases among children.

    Veronica also highlights the steps needed to accelerate progress towards ending TB.Find out more about World TB Day here.

    For more information about ECDC in general, visit ⁠⁠⁠ecdc.europa.eu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    22 mins
  • Episode 58 - Alessandro Broglia and Katriina Willgert - Avian Flu – The Next Pandemic Threat?
    Mar 5 2025

    This episode explores the growing threat of avian influenza, which has led to massive outbreaks in bird populations and an increasing number of cases in mammals.


    With nearly 70 human cases and one death confirmed in the US recently linked to the H5N1 subtype, concerns are rising about its potential to spread among humans in Europe and cause a pandemic.


    Experts from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) discuss the risks to humans, the impact on animals, and the preventive measures that EU Member States can take.


    Listen in to Alessandro Broglia (EFSA) and Katriina Willgert (ECDC) and learn more.


    Read more on the highly pathogenic avian flu on ECDC portal and on EFSA's pages.

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    29 mins
  • Episode 57 - Leonidas Alexakis - Health Task Force in Action - DRC Congo
    Jan 8 2025

    In this episode of ECDC on Air, we speak with Leonidas Alexakis, an expert in epidemic intelligence at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Leonidas shares insights from his recent deployment to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the European Health Task Force. He discusses his role in supporting the response to the ongoing mpox outbreak, the challenges of working in a resource-limited setting, and the lessons learned from working alongside WHO and local health authorities. Tune in for a deeper understanding of international public health efforts and the complexities of responding to emerging disease outbreaks. Learn more about mpox here. For more information about ECDC in general visit ⁠⁠https://ecdc.europa.eu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    12 mins
  • Episode 56 - Eeva Broberg - RSV - A Winter Threat To The Vulnerable
    Dec 18 2024

    In this interview, we sit down with Eeva Broberg, ECDC Principal Expert on respiratory viruses, who tells us why respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an often overlooked disease which represents a considerable risk to certain groups every winter.

    Eeva also talks about the impact on healthcare, and whether current treatments like monoclonal antibodies and the introduction of vaccines in Europe are a game changer.

    Read more about RSV on the European Vaccination Information Portal: vaccination-info.europa.eu/en/rsv

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    20 mins
  • Episode 55 - Agnė Bajorinienė - Bridging the Borders of Public Health
    Oct 14 2024

    In this episode, we sit down with Agnė Bajorinienė - International Relations Officer at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), to discuss the agency’s role in preparing Western Balkan, Türkiye and EU candidate countries for full EU membership from public health perspective.

    Agnė explains the importance of public health cooperation, highlights ongoing projects, and outlines efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory capacities, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) response in these regions.

    She also shares insights into how ECDC is helping these countries align with EU health regulations and address specific regional challenges.

    Learn more about the international cooperation of ECDC here and here.

    For more information about ECDC in general visit ⁠⁠ecdc.europa.eu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: bit.ly/ECDCSocialMedia

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    23 mins
  • Episode 54 - Csaba Kodmon - Chasing The Clones
    Oct 9 2024

    In this episode, we delve into the world of tuberculosis (TB) with ECDC microbiology expert Csaba Kodmon.

    We explore the importance of molecular surveillance in tracking genetic variations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, identifying emerging strains, and preventing epidemics. Csaba discusses cross-border molecular clusters and how data from EU member states aids in understanding TB transmission dynamics.

    Read more about TB on our dedicated page here.

    For more information about ECDC in general please visit ⁠ecdc.europa.eu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠social media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    16 mins