Haemophilus influenzae network

Introduction

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease is most commonly seen in children under 4 years old. Hib disease may present as meningitis, septicaemia or epiglottitis. Around 5% of cases are fatal, and as with meningococcal disease, serious sequelae, including deafness, convulsions and intellectual impairment may result. Infant immunisation programmes with Hib conjugate vaccines were widely introduced in Europe from the early 1990s, where they have successfully controlled the incidence of disease.

Vaccines schedules

Conjugate Hib vaccines were introduced in the early 1990s, although the timing of introduction, vaccine schedules and vaccine preparations used varies across Europe. A summary of the Hib immunisation programmes in EU-IBIS participating countries is available.

Data

Selected tables and figures from the H influenzae surveillance network will be available shortly.

Participants

Details of the epidemiologists and microbiologists involved in the H influenzae network are available. Please note, that for some countries, the contacts are the same for Hib and meningococcal disease.