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	News Archive EPI-NEWS Events		News     2. February 2010 - Acute & chronic hepatitis B 2008 The number of notified cases of acute HBV infection has decreased steadily over the latest 25 years and the risk of HBV infection in DK remains very low. Screening of child-bearing women has shown that there are a number of undiagnosed, asymptomatic HBV carriers among young immigrant women. Physicians are encouraged to screen these women's families to facilitate prophylactic measures as well as treatment. Furthermore, we take this opportunity to stress that HBV is notifiable. Read more in EPI-NEWS 04/2010 1. February 2010 - Salmonella Concord in adopted Ethiopian children In Denmark, Salmonella Concord is normally a very rare salmonella serotype. It has been isolated 0 - 2 times annually during the latest 10-year-period. In 2009 the infection was observed in eight cases. International studies have previously shown that multiresistant Salmonella Concord commonly occurs among children adopted from Ethiopia. The 2009 increase shows that this issue remains relevant. When assessing the state of health of adopted Ethiopian children upon arrival to Denmark, salmonella infection should therefore be considered and physicians should include the possibility of multi-resistance. Read more in EPI-NEWS 03/2010 1. February 2010 - Increase in number of listeria cases After remaining stable at 30-40 for a period of years, the number of notified listeriosis cases has increased every year as from 2003, barring 2008. In Denmark, listeriosis cases are notifiable via the laboratory notification system and strains of L. monocytogenes which have been isolated from patients are forwarded to Statens Serum Institut. The reason for the increased number of listeria cases observed in 2009 is unknown. A preliminary revision of patient data has not identified predisposing factors not already known. Read more in EPI-NEWS 03/2010 18. January 2010 - Blood donor screening 2008 In 2008, a total of 356,974 blood units were screened and 28,719 donor candidates were examined. Infection spreading from Danish donors occurs very rarely. This is, in part, owed to the very strict criteria governing admission as well as every blood drawing. Nevertheless, every year sees positive donors who have engaged in risk behaviour such as homo- or bisexual behaviour, previous IV drug use, etc. To protect the donor system and maintain a high level of safety for blood recipients, it is essential to stress that receiving blood is a right, but giving blood is not. As from 1 January and in addition to the previous serology based screening, all Danish donor blood has been tested using nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT) testing. In NAT testing, genetic material in the form of RNA and DNA is amplified for the following three viruses: HIV, HCV and HBV. Read more in EPI-NEWS 02/2010 18. January 2010 - European field epidemiology training Once again it is possible to apply for admission to a two-year European training programme for epidemiologists, EPIET (European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training). The programme starts in September 2010 and is composed by a two-year placement in another European country. Deadline for application is 7 February 2010. Read more in EPI-NEWS 02/2010
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	Statens Serum Institut 5 Artillerivej 2300 Copenhagen S Denmark Tel: +45 3268 3268 Fax: +45 3268 3868 E-mail: serum@ssi.dk