Five years after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, infectious disease experts continue to draw on its lessons for future disasters.

A new joint action focusing on tackling chronic respiratory diseases was recently launched. Backed by the EU4Health programme, the 3-year initiative aims to improve lung health across Europe through innovative digital health technologies.

Launched in Brussels on 30 January to drive political momentum for broader vaccine uptake across all stages of life. The group is co-chaired by Croatian MEP Tomislav Sokol and Lithuanian MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis, a former European Commissioner for Health.

Health misinformation and disinformation are not new, but the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point. Health misinformation was weaponised as propaganda, exploiting fear, undermining public trust, and hindering collective action in critical moments.

An online collaboration space where professionals working in the prevention of infectious diseases come together, driven by the shared goal of integrating social and behavioural sciences in their public health work.

Use these materials to raise awareness about new immunisation products to protect infants in early life from a top cause of severe respiratory infections in children.

ECDC has launched an online platform, RespiCompass, which uses mathematical modelling to simulate respiratory disease dynamics under different scenarios.

Based on the current risk assessment, WHO advises against any travel or trade restrictions related to current trends in acute respiratory infections.