Newsletter - September 2023

1. Editorial
2. EUPHA update
3. European Public Health Conference
4. European Journal of Public Health
5. Call for proposals, job opportunities
6. Interesting news
7. Upcoming courses and conferences
8. Interesting publications
9. European Institutions' news
10. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news
11. WHO news

1. Editorial

Welcome to our September newsletter. With just over a month to go before the 16th European Public Health Conference, the preparations are in full swing. Read all about the latest conference updates, including the pre-conference programme. Furthermore this month: We continue to provide the evidence-base to health (related) European policies, this month on the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy; a new issue of our scientific journal is out; and updates from our partners, including WHO/Euro and the European Institutions.

Wishing you a pleasant reading,

Iveta Nagyova, EUPHA President.

2. EUPHA update

#EUPHAatEPH2023 in Dublin

We are less than two months away from the largest annual European gathering of public health professionals! The 16th European Public Health Conference (#EPH2023) will take place between November 8th - 11th in Dublin, Ireland. 
As always, the #EPH2023 is co-organised by EUPHA so you can expect an exciting and packed conference programme. EUPHA is actively involved through its Members, Partners, Sections, EUPHAnxt and Working Groups. We’ve counted one plenary session, 12 pre-conferences, 62 workshops, a lunch symposium, and 31 join-the-network meetings, all co-organised by EUPHA. We will also have both a EUPHA exhibition stand, as well as a dedicated stand for our next generation network - EUPHAnxt. 
We will keep you posted about all of these activities. 
To stay in touch, please follow and use this year’s #EUPHAatEPH2023 hashtag on LinkedIn, Twitter/X and Facebook!
See you in Dublin!

EUPHA provides evidence for Mid-Term Review LGBTIQ Equality Strategy

On 14 September 2023, EUPHA responded to the call for evidence related to the mid-term review of the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. The response and related evidence was provided by EUPHA Sexual and gender minority health section. Read our response here.

Joint statement on sustainable funding for (health) civil society organisations

EUPHA, together with other members of the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance, calls upon the European Commission DG Sante to reinstall the multiannual framework for Operating Grants for health civil society organisations. These grants allow health civil society organisations to efficiently and sustainably support EU policy making while guaranteeing their independence from vested interests. 
Read the full statement here.

3. European Public Health Conference

16^th EUROPEAN PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE, DUBLIN, IRELAND, 8 - 11 NOVEMBER 2023
OUR FOOD, OUR HEALTH, OUR EARTH: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR HUMANITY

Update plenary programme

Names of speakers and moderators are now all confirmed. Read more here.

Opening Ceremony, Thu 9 November, 11:40–12:40 (all Dublin times)

Transitioning to more sustainable food systems that support health and wellbeing, organised by EuroHealthNet, Thu 9 November, 14:00–15:00 with a video address by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Commercial determinants of non-communicable diseases: the imperative for a systems approach, by EUPHA and European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Thu 9 November, 17:50-18:50

Building the future One Health workforce, by ASPHER and EHMA, Fri 10 November, 10:30-11:30

On the path to an equitable and sustainable digital future for European health systems, by WHO Regional Office for Europe, Fri 10 November, 14:00-15:00

Safeguarding health together: preparing the European Union's health priorities, by European Commission, Sat 11 November, 10:30-11:30

Closing Ceremony, Sat 11 November, 15:10-15:55, with a video address by Mary Robertson, former President of Ireland and founder Mary Robertson Foundation - Climate Justice

Pre-conference programme

Pre-conferences are held on Wednesday 8 November at The Convention Centre Dublin. The full programme is announced on our website. Pre-conferences are held for half day (morning or afternoon) or full day. Attending a pre-conference requires separate registration. Pre-conferences can be booked when registering for the main conference. If you are already registered you can add a pre-conference to your registration by sending an email with your preferred pre-conference to registration@ephconference.eu. Registration fees are €75 and €150. Sponsored pre-conferences are €20. (inclusive network buffet lunch and VAT).

Assessing health needs: a public health diagnosis of two Dublin communities, organised by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin City University (DCU), Sláintecare Healthy Communities

Cancer prevention for a sustainable future: an interactive workshop for public health specialists, organised by IARC/WHO

Better public health: a data centred approach to interoperability, with international information standards, organised by GGD-GHOR, Netherlands

Developments in evaluating implementation of public policy for the promotion of physical activity and healthy nutrition, by University of Limerick, Ireland

Skills building workshop: Applying strategic foresight methods in public health and policy making, by EUPHA Foresight section

A guideline to the European Health Data Space language based on health literacy principles, by EUPHA Health literacy and Public health monitoring and reporting sections

Approaches and methods for cost-of-illness studies: national and international experiences, by EUPHA Public health economics section, in collaboration with the OECD

Health literacy, health education and healthy lifestyles: connections and contradictions towards sustainability, by EUPHA Health promotion section a.o.

Master that elevator: how to effectively pitch your research to policy makers. A capacity building session for young professionals, by EUPHAnxt and EuroNet MRPH

Inclusion of refugee and migrant groups to address key health challenges for a sustainable future, by EUPHA Migrant and ethnic minority health section; Lancet Migration; and University of Limerick, Ireland

A hands-on introduction to qualitative research methods in public health, by EUPHA Public health epidemiology section

Workplace sexual harassment: theory, measurement, consequences and prevention, by EUPHA Social security, work and health section

Assessing COVID-19 Response Strategies: Lessons, Legacies, and Future Preparedness, by THL, Finland

Reuse of sensitive individual data – Methods and tools for a federated approach, by EUPHA Public health monitoring and reporting section a.o.

Competences and training needs for better implementation of HIA across Europe, by EUPHA Health impact assessment section

Sustainable primary healthcare: lessons learned, quick wins and challenges, by NHG-Dutch Council for General Practitioners, Netherlands; European Forum for Primary Care (EFPC)

Young Researchers’ Forum (YRF), by ASPHER and EUPHA

Art, architecture, atmosphere and (mental) health, Walking tour/pre-conference by EUPHA Urban public health, Environment and health, Public mental health sections [fully booked]

Lunch symposiums

Lunch symposiums are held during the extended lunch hours of the conference. Delegates registered for the main conference may attend these sessions without prior registration. Get your lunch in the Exhibition/Catering Area, walk in and join the session. Check our website for regular updates.

Thursday 9 November, 12:50 – 13:50

Our Food, Our Health, Our Earth: EU funding opportunities, organised by European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)

The making of a leader: women leaders in Public Health. A session for young public health professionals, organised by WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Public Health Alliance, EUPHAnxt

Enabling health and care systems transformation through the THCS Partnership, organised by European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS)

Friday 10 November, 12:50 – 13:50

Life Course Immunisation: Protecting Public Health, organised by Pfizer Healthcare Ireland. More details to follow on our website

Health inequalities and multimorbidity as challenges to the sustainability of public health systems – examples from Finland and Scotland, organised by IMPRO - multidisciplinary research project by University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Aalto University and University of Oulu

Conference Venue

The 16^th EPH Conference will be held in The Convention Centre Dublin. The CCD is one of Europe's most environmentally-friendly venues. In 2021, the CCD secured ISO 20121 accreditation, which is a recognised international accreditation that demonstrates commitment to running sustainable events. Read more.

4. European Journal of Public Health

Latest Issue: Volume 33, Issue 4, August 2023

5. Call for proposals, job opportunities

Job opportunities at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

Various job openings at the ECDC, including Scientific Officer Bioinformatics (deadline 17 Oct) and Head of Section Public Health Training (deadline 3 October). All vacancy announcements are available here.

Call for tenders on the secondary use of health data for the European Health Data Space (EHDS)

HaDEA has published the call for tenders HADEA/2023/OP/0024 "Capacity building for secondary uses of health data for the European Health Data Space”.
The capacity building activities target staff in health data access bodies (HDABs) and people with a platform to reach out to stakeholders involved in the secondary use of health data (EHDS2 ambassadors). 
Extended deadline: 24 October 2023, 16:00 (CEST).

2023 EU4Health calls for action grants - 12 new calls

12 calls for proposals under the 2023 EU4Health Work Programme are published. Topics include healthcare access, mental health, NCDs, cancer, Substances of Human Origin and medical devices. The deadline for applications is on 17 October 2023, 17:00 (CET).

6. Interesting news

COVID-19 and public health considerations for Autumn 2023

On 7 September, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) provided an update on the current status of COVID-19 transmission in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, and public health considerations for Autumn 2023.
Read the full press release here.

September is Pain Awareness Month

September is declared Pain Awareness Month by The World Health Assembly (WHA) – a subsection of the World Health Organization (WHO). The month is dedicated to raising public awareness and understanding of pain. Read more about this awareness month on the website of the European Pain Federation.
This year, International Association on the Study of Pain (IASP) focused on the vital importance of an individualised, multidisciplinary, and multimodal approach to pain care.

'Heavy red meat eaters could be CO2-taxed in the future'

Interview with Eric Lambin, member of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission, gave an interview about the scientific consensus towards sustainable food consumption in the EU and the new scientific opinion on this topic. 

This one-page summary gives an overview of the most relevant recommendations from the recent Scientific Opinion on Sustainable Food Consumption.

7. Upcoming courses and conferences

8. Interesting publications

Addressing vaccine hesitancy: experimental evidence from nine high-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

BMJ Global Health | 1 September 2023
A study on the impact of public health messages on intentions to vaccinate and vaccination uptakes, especially among hesitant groups. The experiment compared the effects of egoistic and altruistic messages on COVID-19 vaccine intentions and behaviour.

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

Health Policy | 23 September 2023
A variety of methodologies have been developed to help health systems increase the ‘value’ created from their available resources. The urgency of creating value is heightened by population ageing, growth in people with complex morbidities, technology advancements, and increased citizen expectations. This study develops a policy framework that seeks to reconcile the various approaches towards value-based policies in health systems. 

Advancing urban green and blue space contributions to public health

The Lancet | September 2023
Urban green and blue spaces (UGBS) have the potential to improve public health and wellbeing, address health inequities, and provide co-benefits for the environment, economy, and society. This Viewpoint provides an integrated perspective on the challenges that hinder the delivery of health-enhancing UGBS and recommendations to address them. 

9. European Institutions' news

An EU comprehensive approach that prioritises sound mental health for all

Following the adoption of a new comprehensive approach to mental health on 7 June, the European Commission is organising a hybrid, World Mental Health Day Conference from 09:30 to 13:00 on Tuesday 10 October 2023 in Brussel. The half-day event is hosted by Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and will include keynote speeches from Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians, Marc Angel, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

Highlights from the State of the Union speech

In her State of the Union address on 13 September 2023, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen outlined the main priorities and flagship initiatives for the year to come, building on the European Union's successes and achievements of the past years.

Public exposure to widely used Bisphenol A exceeds acceptable health safety levels

Population exposure to the synthetic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in everything from plastic and metal food containers to reusable water bottles and drinking water pipes in Europe is well above acceptable health safety levels, according to updated research data. This poses a potential health risk to millions of people, a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing says. 

Protection of workers from asbestos

On 28 September 2022, the European Commission proposed a revision of the 2009 Directive on the protection of workers from the risk of exposure to asbestos. Despite the total ban on the use of asbestos in the EU, exposure to this carcinogenic fibre, which is still present in many buildings, kills more than 70 000 people a year in Europe. Parliament is due to vote in October on the agreement reached in interinstitutional negotiations. Find the one-pager published by the European Parliamentary Research Service here.

World Environmental Health Day: a closer look at HaDEA-managed projects exploring the links between the environment and our health

On the occasion of World Environmental Health Day, watched on 26 September, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) presents Horizon Europe projects on environemental health.

10. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control news

Eurosurveillance - Volume 28, Issue 35, 31 August 2023

Rapid communication
Asymptomatic infection with clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in carnivore pets, Italy, April 2023
Ana Moreno, Francesco Bonfante, Alessio Bortolami, Irene Cassaniti, Anna Caruana, ao
Ongoing measles outbreaks in Romania, March 2023 to August 2023
Mihaela Lazar, Cătălina Pascu, Maria Roșca  and Aurora Stănescu

Research
Reversed urban–rural gradient in COVID-19 seroprevalence and related factors in a nationally representative survey, Poland, 29 March to 14 May 2021
Michał Czerwiński, Małgorzata Stępień, Grzegorz Juszczyk, Małgorzata Sadkowska-Todys, Adam Zieliński, Jakub Rutkowski  and Magdalena Rosińska

Eurosurveillance - Volume 28, Issue 36, 07 September 2023

Editorial
Celebrating the third World Field Epidemiology Day: a focus on MediPIET the field epidemiology training programme in Mediterranean and Black Sea countries
Aleksandar Obradovic

Rapid communication
First cases of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 in Denmark, 2023
Morten Rasmussen, Frederik Trier Møller, Vithiagaran Gunalan, Sharmin Baig, Marc Bennedbæk, ao
Increase in bloodstream infections caused by emm1 group A Streptococcus correlates with emergence of toxigenic M1_UK, Belgium, May 2022 to August 2023
Juan Pablo Rodriguez-Ruiz, Qiang Lin, Christine Lammens, Pierre R Smeesters, Stefanie van Kleef-van Koeveringe, Veerle Matheeussen and Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar
Sustained increase of paediatric invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections dominated by M1_UK and diverse emm12 isolates, Portugal, September 2022 to May 2023
Catarina Gouveia, Maria Paula Bajanca-Lavado, Rafael Mamede, Ana Araújo Carvalho, Fernanda Rodrigues, José Melo-Cristino, Mario Ramirez, Ana Friães, Portuguese Group for the Study of Streptococcal Infections and Portuguese Study Group of Pediatric Invasive Streptococcal Disease

Euroroundup
A standardised protocol for relative SARS-CoV-2 variant severity assessment, applied to Omicron BA.1 and Delta in six European countries, October 2021 to February 2022
Tommy Nyberg, Peter Bager, Ingrid Bech Svalgaard, Dritan Bejko, Nick Bundle, Josie Evans, Tyra Grove Krause, Jim McMenamin, Joël Mossong, Heather Mutch, Ajibola Omokanye, André Peralta-Santos, ao

Perspective
Field Epidemiology: Fit for the future
Susan Hahné, Charlotte Hammer, Alma Tostmann, Jane Whelan and Christopher WilliamsField
Epidemiology and Public Health Microbiology training: capturing the alumni perspectives of the training’s impact
Justine Schaeffer, Charlotte Christiane Hammer, Iro Evlampidou, Laura Bubba, Zsofia Igloi, Timothée Dub, Annika Wendland, Jane Whelan, Stine Nielsen, Amrish Baidjoe, Alma Tostmann and on behalf of the EPIET Alumni Network Boards 2017–2023

Eurosurveillance - Volume 28, Issue 37, 14 September 2023

Rapid communication
Preliminary results on an autochthonous dengue outbreak in Lombardy Region, Italy, August 2023
Irene Cassaniti, Guglielmo Ferrari, Sabrina Senatore, Eva Rossetti, Francesco Defilippo, Manuel Maffeo, Luigi Vezzosi, Giulia Campanini, Antonella Sarasini, Stefania Paolucci, Antonio Piralla, ao
Two cases of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection combining ceftriaxone-resistance and high-level azithromycin resistance, France, November 2022 and May 2023
Clara Maubaret, François Caméléna, Manel Mrimèche, Aymeric Braille, Mathilde Liberge, Mary Mainardis, Clémence Guillaume, Franck Noel, Cécile Bébéar, Jean-Michel Molina, Florence Lot, Emilie Chazelle and Béatrice Berçot

Research
The re-emergence of influenza following the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia, 2021 to 2022
Catherine GA Pendrey, Janet Strachan, Heidi Peck, Ammar Aziz, Jean Moselen, Rob Moss, Md Rezanur Rahaman, Ian G Barr, Kanta Subbarao and Sheena G Sullivan
Deciphering mechanisms of bla_NDM gene transmission between human and animals: a genomics study of bacterial isolates from various sources in China, 2015 to 2017
Kaichao Chen, Miaomiao Xie, Ning Dong, Edward Wai Chi Chan, Rong Zhang and Sheng Chen

Miscellaneous
Eurosurveillance annual theme 2024: Editors inviting submissions on changing urban environments and effects on infectious diseases and their epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and control
Eurosurveillance editorial team

Eurosurveillance - Volume 28, Issue 38, 21 September 2023

Surveillance
Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection based on self-administered swabs, Denmark, May to July 2022: evaluation of a pilot study
Kamille Fogh, Tine Graakjær Larsen, Cyril Jean-Marie Martel, Frederik Trier Møller, Lasse Skafte Vestergaard, Ramona Trebbien, Anne-Marie Vangsted and Tyra Grove Krause

Research
A postpartum intervention for vaccination promotion by midwives using motivational interviews reduces mothers’ vaccine hesitancy, south-eastern France, 2021 to 2022: a randomised controlled trial
Pierre Verger, Chloé Cogordan, Lisa Fressard, Virginie Gosselin, Xavier Donato, Magalie Biferi, Valérie Verlomme, Pierre Sonnier, Hervé Meur, Philippe Malfait, Patrick Berthiaume, Lauriane Ramalli and Arnaud Gagneur
Can variants, reinfection, symptoms and test types affect COVID-19 diagnostic performance? A large-scale retrospective study of AG-RDTs during circulation of Delta and Omicron variants, Czechia, December 2021 to February 2022
Tomáš Kliegr, Jiří Jarkovský, Helena Jiřincová, Jaroslav Kuchař, Tomáš Karel, David Chudán, Stanislav Vojíř, Michal Zavřel, Ondřej Šanca and Ruth Tachezy

Perspective
Task Force for a rapid response to an outbreak of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children in Portugal in 2022
Berta Grau-Pujol, João Vieira Martins, Isabel Goncalves, Fernanda Rodrigues, Rita de Sousa, Dina Oliveira, Joana Bettencourt, Diana Mendes, Inês Mateus de Cunha, Sara Pocinho, Ana Firme, ao

Eurosurveillance - Volume 28, Issue 38, 28 September 2023

Rapid communication
A community cluster of influenza A(H3N2) virus infection with reduced susceptibility to baloxavir due to a PA E199G substitution in Japan, February to March 2023
Emi Takashita, Seiichiro Fujisaki, Hiroko Morita, Shiho Nagata, Hideka Miura, Yuki Matsuura, Saya Yamamoto, Shoko Chiba, Yumiko Inoue, Iori Minami, Sayaka Yoshikawa, Seiko Yamazaki, ao
High attack rate in a large care home outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86, East of England, August 2023
Lucy Reeve, Elise Tessier, Amy Trindall, Nurin Iwani Binti Abdul Aziz, Nick Andrews, Matthias Futschik,  Jessica Rayner, Alexis Didier’Serre, Rebecca Hams, Natalie Groves, Eileen Gallagher, ao

Outbreaks
Increased reports of severe myocarditis associated with enterovirus infection in neonates, United Kingdom, 27 June 2022 to 26 April 2023
Anika Singanayagam, Catherine Moore, Susannah Froude, Cristina Celma, Julia Stowe, Erjola Hani, Khuen Foong Ng, Peter Muir, Marion Roderick, Simon Cottrell, David F. Bibby, ao

Surveillance
Healthcare-associated infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria in Andalusia, Spain, 2014 to 2021

Research
Meningococcal carriage in children and young adults: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study, Iceland, 2019 to 2021
Iris Kristinsdottir, Linda J Visser, Willem R Miellet, Rob Mariman, Gerlinde Pluister, Gunnsteinn Haraldsson, Asgeir Haraldsson, Krzysztof Trzciński  and Valtyr Thors

11. WHO news

New WHO/Europe handbook will help countries adapt health guidelines to national contexts

WHO/Europe has published a new handbook that will help countries adopt health evidence-based guidelines and adapt them to their unique national contexts. The newly released handbook, titled "Strengthening countries’ capacities to adopt and adapt evidence-based guidelines", is designed to help governments and other stakeholders to address the challenge of contextualizing guidelines. 

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies: Stronger partnerships, more investments and shared responsibility needed to tackle air pollution

Air pollution is responsible for half a million premature deaths annually in the WHO European Region, primarily due to noncommunicable diseases, such as ischaemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On this International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, 7 September, WHO/Europe is calling to step up action "together for clean air", highlighting the urgent need for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and shared responsibility for overcoming air pollution. 

Digital Health in the WHO European Region: the ongoing journey to commitment and transformation

Digital health has experienced a period of accelerated growth in recent years. The critical role of digital health in attaining universal health coverage and in supporting efforts to make health care more efficient, accessible and effective is now clearly recognized. 
Drawing on the data gathered through the 2022 Survey on Digital Health in the WHO European Region, this WHO report presents an overview of the situation in the Region. The report includes case examples provided by countries, illustrating a range of digital health applications and practices in various national contexts. 

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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