Western Europe

Abstract

The epidemiology of infectious disease in Western Europe is dominated by infections typical of industrialized, urbanized regions in the temperate climate zones. Public health policies, including mass vaccination, has reduced the incidence of community-acquired infections. Most infections are airborne respiratory tract infections. Food-borne gastrointestinal infections are relatively rare. Zoonotic and parasitic infections are rare. Their distribution varies with changing landscape and climate. Vector-borne infections are mainly tick borne. Leishmaniasis and Aedes albopictus-transmitted dengue and Chikungunya have been reported in Southern France. STIs have become rare. Prevalence of antibiotic resistance varies and is partly associated with extensive use of antibiotics in the bioindustry.