ECDC: On Air

Author: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

A peek behind the scenes at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - the EU agency that aims to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health posed by infectious diseases in Europe. Hear from our experts on a wide range of topics as they discuss the things that matter, and give you a crash course in Epidemiology 101.
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Episode 71 - Helena de Carvalho Gomes - Cervical Cancer Then & Now - The Path to Elimination
Episode 71
Wednesday, 4 February, 2026

In this episode of ECDC On Air, we speak with ECDC's Helena de Carvalho Gomes - Deputy Head of Unit for Scientific Evidence and Communication, and former clinician in obstetrics and gynaecology, about the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer and how vaccination and screening can prevent the disease.Drawing on her clinical experience, she reflects on changes in cervical cancer prevention over the past 25 years and on the impact of HPV vaccination and screening in reducing pre-cancerous lesions and cancer risk among women.We also discuss why sustained vaccination programmes and regular cervical screening (Pap smear or Papanicolaou test) remain essential for reducing cervical cancer across Europe and moving towards its elimination.Want to know more about HPV and its connection to cervical cancer?Read more on the European Vaccination Information Portal in YOUR language here.Find out more about HPV on the disease page on ECDC Portal.More information on epidemiology in Europe in general can be found on our portal: https://⁠ecdc.europa.eu⁠ and ⁠social media channels⁠.Enjoy the episode!