European Antibiotic Awareness Day

The first-ever European Antibiotic Awareness Day will take place across Europe on 18 November 2008. European Antibiotic Awareness Day will be an annually recurring event that will raise awareness about the risks associated with inappropriate use of antibiotics and how to take antibiotics responsibly.

In 2008, European Antibiotic Awareness Day will set focus specifically on the need for everybody to stop any unnecessary use of antibiotics.

European Antibiotic Awareness Day is a European health initiative in close collaboration with the World Health Organization, as well as many other relevant representative stakeholder groups such as health professionals and scientists.

All public authorities, healthcare professionals, child care professionals and social workers as well as private organisations, families and individuals are encouraged to take part in the initiative and to launch their own activities or discussions on responsible use of antibiotics on European Antibiotic Awareness Day.


About the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is a European Union agency which aims to strengthen Europe's defences against infectious diseases.

The mission of ECDC is to identify, assess and communicate about the threats to human health posed by infectious diseases. In order to achieve this mission, ECDC works in partnership with the health protection bodies across Europe to strengthen and develop surveillance and early warning systems for infections.

By working with experts throughout Europe, ECDC pools Europe's health knowledge, so as to develop scientific opinions and recommendations about the risks posed by current and emerging infectious diseases. ECDC also contributes to European Union information and communication on infectious diseases through its surveillance systems, its publications and its cooperation with health authorities across Europe.