Monthly Surveillance Report - Aug 2006
Tuesday 21st March 2023
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Key Notifiable Disease Trends
- Hepatitis A: 10 cases of Hepatitis A were notified in August 2006 compared to five notified cases in the same month of the previous year. The cases were reported from Counties Manukau (5), Lakes (2), Waikato (1), Bay of Plenty (1), and Wairarapa (1) DHBs. Two cases had been to Fiji during the incubation period, one of whom had exposure to human sewage. Two additional cases had exposure to human sewage in New Zealand.
- Influenza: during August 2006 (weeks 31 – 34), 953 consultations for influenza-like illness were reported from 80 general practices (on average) in 23 out of 24 health districts. The average weekly consultation rate for August was 69.9 per 100 000 patient population, compared to a rate of 32.4 per 100 000 patient population during the same month last year (Figure 1). South Canterbury had the highest consultation rate (257.0 per 100 000), followed by Hawke’s Bay (174.6 per 100 000). A total of 236 swabs were received for testing during August. Of these, 72 influenza viruses were isolated, 39 as influenza A (yet to be sub-typed), 25 as A/New York/55/2004 (H3N2) - like, and eight as A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (H1N1) - like. In addition, 142 influenza viruses were reported from the laboratory-based (non-sentinel) surveillance, 134 as influenza A (yet to be sub-typed), six as A/New York/55/2004 (H3N2) - like, one as A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (H1N1) - like, and one as influenza B (not typed).
- Meningococcal disease: based on the earliest date available , 18 cases of meningococcal disease were notified during August 2006, of which 16 (88.9%) were laboratory-confirmed, and one was fatal. In comparison, 27 cases were notified the previous month, July 2006, and 13 cases were notified during the same month last year August 2005. For the 12 month period ending 31 August 2006, Wairarapa DHB recorded the highest incidence rate of 10.5 per 100 000 population (4 cases). The highest age-specific incidence rate was in infants aged less than one year (62.2 per 100 000 population, 34 cases), followed by those in the 15-19 years age group (12.8 per 100 000 population, 34 cases), and those in the 1-4 years age group (11.1 per 100 000 population, 24 cases).
- Pertussis: 119 pertussis cases were notified in August 2006, of whom 11 (9.2%) were laboratory-confirmed. The number of pertussis notifications per month has decreased from the peak in November 2004 when 613 cases were notified. Of the 119 cases notified in August 2006, three were reported as being hospitalised. Canterbury DHB had the highest number of cases (36). For the 12 month period ending 31 August 2006, Canterbury DHB had the highest incidence rate of 144.9 per 100 000 population (619 cases), compared to the national rate of 46.0 per 100 000 population. Over this period the incidence rate by age group was highest amongst infants aged less than one year (111.6 per 100 000 population). This was followed by children in the 10-14 years age group (73.3 per 100 000 population) and the 5-9 years age group (61.1 per 100 000 population).
- Rickettsial disease: one confirmed case was notified in August 2006 bringing the year to date total to six (5 confirmed, 1 under investigation). All cases notified this year have been from Waikato DHB. The cases ranged in age from 35 to 69 years. Of the five confirmed cases, four did not travel overseas during the incubation period implying locally acquired infection. The travel history of the fifth case is unknown.
- Shigellosis: 12 shigellosis cases were notified in August 2006 compared to nine cases notified in the same month of the previous year. The cases were from Counties Manukau (3), Nelson Marlborough (3), Northland (2), Canterbury (2), Hutt (1), and Otago (1) DHBs. For 10 of the 12 cases the ESR Enteric Reference Laboratory received an isolate. The species involved were: Shigella flexneri 2b (4), S. flexneri 1 (1), S. flexneri 1b (1), S. flexneri 2a (1), S. flexneri 3c (1), S. flexneri 4b (1), and S. flexneri 6a (1). Four cases had been overseas during the incubation period. The countries visited were: Fiji (2), United States of America and Mexico (1), and India (1).
- Yersiniosis: 48 yersiniosis cases were notified in August 2006 compared to 40 cases notified in the same month of the previous year. Canterbury DHB had the highest number of cases (9), followed by Capital and Coast (8) DHB. Three cases had been overseas during the incubation period. The countries visited were: Fiji (1), and South Africa (1) and one case had been on a Pacific cruise.
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Ph: +64 4 914 0700 Fax: +64 4 914 0770 Email: survqueries@esr.cri.nz |
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