Eurosurveillance - Volume 31, Issue 2, 15 January 2026

In Europe, the 2025/26 seasonal influenza epidemic started in October 2025. Co-circulation of A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 was observed in several countries including France. We estimated early vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza virus in French outpatients (5,451 positives/18,816 negatives). A significant VE across all age groups was measured: 28% (95% CI: 17–37) for those aged ≥ 65 years, 45% (95% CI: 36–53) for 18–64-year-olds and 57% (95% CIs: 29–74) for 0–17-year-olds. Reinforcing vaccination uptake is warranted.

[An expression of concern for this article was published on 16 January 2026.]

During the early 2025/26 influenza season, influenza A(H3N2) subclade K rapidly predominated in Beijing, China. Using a test-negative design, we estimated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) among influenza-like illness outpatients tested between September and December 2025. Among 9,579 participants, sequencing of 316 randomly selected A(H3N2)-positive samples showed 84.8% were subclade K, and antigenic analysis of 65 viruses indicated antigenic divergence. Despite this, adjusted VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza was 41.3% (95% CI: 29.2 to 51.3), indicating moderate protection during this subclade K-dominated season.

In 2024, based on the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing breakpoint, we observed a tetracycline resistance prevalence of 62.3% (2,231/3,579) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from 22 European countries (range: 16.5–100%). Multivariable analysis of correlations between resistance and patients’ epidemiological characteristics found tetracycline resistance associated with men who have sex with men (aOR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.06–1.79). Our results are important when considering measures against transmission of sexually transmitted bacterial infections in Europe, such as in the context of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP).

Currently, there is concern and uncertainty in the European and North American markets for in vitro diagnostics regarding the regulation of in vitro diagnostic tests. In the European Union, starting from May 2022, the regulation on vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR) has replaced the directive on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDD). The IVDR, while written with the good intentions to ensure patient safety and health while supporting innovation and transparency, has resulted in uncertainty, instances of disruption of diagnostic development, and concerns related to pandemic preparedness and response. We here outline the history, current situation and concerns regarding pandemic preparedness in Europe. Finally, we make recommendations that could improve the IVDR while supporting pandemic preparedness.