Infuso A, Hamers FF, Brunet JB; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1998; 12: 931 (abstract no. 43434).
European Centre for Monitoring of AIDS, St. Maurice, France.
BACKGROUND: AIDS reporting has been the basis of the epidemiological monitoring of HIV infection in Europe. Declining AIDS incidence in western Europe (partly resulting from the introduction of new therapies) and emerging HIV epidemics in eastern Europe (not yet detectable through AIDS surveillance) require an adaptation of surveillance strategies. We examined HIV ICR systems in European countries. METHODS: A questionnaire, sent in September 1997 to HIV/AIDS surveillance coordinators in 48 countries of the WHO European Region, was returned by 42 countries (including the 15 countries of European Union [EU]). RESULTS: Thirty-three countries (including eight EU countries) have national HIV ICR systems, of which 29 started before 1990. HIV ICR is limited to some regions in France, Italy and Spain (the three countries with the highest AIDS incidence), and to a single city in Albania and The Netherlands. Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg and Malta have no ICR. Among the 33 national systems, HIV ICR is voluntary in Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and United Kingdom, and mandatory in other countries. Both laboratories and clinicians report in 19 countries. Cases are reported at national level with names in eight countries (none in the EU) and through an identifying code in 18. Data completeness differs markedly with, in 1996, up to 50% incomplete names in Ukraine, and 27% unknown transmission group in Russia, 37% in Turkey and 58% in Germany. Linkage with AIDS reporting is possible in 27 countries. System changes are planned at short term in 16 countries, including coordinated expansion of regional ICR (France, Italy, Spain), improved link with AIDS ICR (Denmark, Hungary), coordination of laboratory and clinician reporting (Germany, Switzerland), switch to non-nominative ICR (e.g. Poland, Russia). Ukraine, where the epidemic is recent, is considering abandoning HIV ICR. CONCLUSIONS: Different systems for HIV ICR exist since the 1980s in at least 38 European countries. Reorganization of HIV ICR is planned at short term in 16 countries, ranging from abandoning ICR in Ukraine (large recent epidemic) to expanding regional systems in France, Italy and Spain (largest epidemics). Rising interest in HIV ICR and changing epidemic trends represent a unique opportunity to develop standardised HIV ICR at European level.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Albania
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Disease Outbreaks
- Europe
- Europe, Eastern
- European Union
- France
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Greece
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Hungary
- Incidence
- Ireland
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
Other ID:
UI: 102231597
From Meeting Abstracts