Monthly Notifiable Disease Surveillance Report - Sep 2013

Campylobacteriosis: 666 cases of campylobacteriosis were notified in September 2013 compared to 552 cases notified during the same month of the previous year. For the 12 month period ending 30 September 2013, the highest DHB rates were in South Canterbury (277.6 per 100 000 population, 157 cases), Waikato (193.6 per 100 000 population, 717 cases), and Taranaki (193.1 per 100 000 population, 213 cases) compared to a national rate of 149.6 per 100 000 population. Three finalised Campylobacter outbreaks were reported in September (18 cases) and three interim outbreaks (case numbers yet to be determined).

Giardiasis: 149 cases of giardiasis were notified in September 2013 compared to 102 cases notified during the same month of the previous year (Figure 1). The highest numbers of cases were reported from Southern (21 cases), Counties Manukau (20 cases), and Capital & Coast (18 cases) DHBs. Among the cases where risk factor information was recorded, 55.6% (30/54) had contact with faecal matter, 46.4% (26/56) had contact with other symptomatic people, 35.0% (21/60) had contact with farm animals and 30.0% (15/50) had consumed water from an untreated supply. Three finalised Giardia outbreaks were reported in September (16 cases) and two interim outbreaks (case numbers yet to be determined).

Hydatid disease: Three cases of hydatid disease were notified in September 2013. The cases were a male in the 60-69 year age group from Auckland DHB who previously worked as a farmer up until 1998, a female in the 60-69 year age group from Canterbury DHB who had contact with dogs in her twenties and a male in the 20-29 year age group from Southern DHB whose risk factors are still being investigated.

Legionellosis: 18 cases of legionellosis were notified in September 2013 (11 confirmed, 2 probable, 5 under investigation). One of the under investigation cases has since been found not to meet case criteria after further investigation. This compares to nine cases notified in the same month of the previous year. The following section relates to the 11 confirmed and two probable cases only. The highest number of cases was reported from Canterbury DHB (7 cases). The cases ranged in age from 20 to 82 years, with the highest number of cases in the 60-69 years age group (5 cases). Ten hospitalisations were reported. Among the cases where risk factor information was recorded, nine cases reported exposure to environmental sources of infection: exposure to compost/potting mix (8 cases), possible contaminated water supply (4 cases), and farm work moving hay bales and turning over soil (1 case). The Legionella species was identified in nine cases: L. longbeachae (3 cases), L. longbeachae serogroup 1 or 2 (2 cases), L. pneumophila serogroup 12, L. pneumophila serogroup 1, and L. pneumophila serogroup unknown, and L. sainthelensi serogroup unknown (1 case each).

Measles: One case of measles was notified in September 2013, the case has since been found to not meet case criteria after further investigation.

Meningococcal disease: 13 cases of meningococcal disease were notified in September 2013 compared to seven cases notified during the same month of the previous year. Two of the cases have since been found to not meet case criteria after investigation. The highest number of cases was reported from the Auckland region (8 cases). Cases occurred in the 1 to 4 (3 cases), less than one year, 10-14 years, and 15-19 years (2 cases each), and 20-29 years, and 30-39 years (1 case each) age groups. Ethnicity was recorded for 90.9% (10/11) cases with the highest number of cases in the European or Other (4 cases), followed by Pacific Peoples (3 cases), Māori (2 cases) and Asian (1 case) ethnic groups. All eleven cases were laboratory confirmed and the strain type was determined for all cases: group B (7 cases including 2 B:P1.7-2,4) and group C (4 cases including 3 C:P1.5-1, 10-8).

Rheumatic fever: Based on the earliest data available, 21 cases of rheumatic fever (of which all were initial attacks) were notified in September 2013 compared to 11 cases notified during the same month of the previous year. Of the 16 cases with hospitalisation status recorded, all were hospitalised. All cases were notified from the North Island with the highest number of cases notified from Counties Manukau DHB (8 cases). Ethnicity was reported for all cases with the highest number of cases in the Pacific Peoples (11 cases), followed by Māori (9 cases), and Asian (1 case) ethnic groups. The cases ranged in age from seven years to 39 years, with the highest numbers of cases in the 10-14 years (7 cases) and 20-29 years (6 cases) age groups.  

Rickettsial disease: Two cases of rickettsial disease were notified in September 2013. Both cases were confirmed with murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi infection), and were from Counties Manukau and Waikato DHBs (1 case each). One case had not travelled overseas but had contact with rat faeces while the remaining case had travelled to Thailand during the incubation period.

Tuberculosis disease: 40 cases of tuberculosis disease (39 new cases and 1 relapse or reactivation) were notified in September 2013 compared to 19 cases notified during the same month of the previous year. Twenty cases were laboratory confirmed. The highest numbers of cases were reported in the Auckland region (18 cases). Age was recorded for 97.5% (39/40) of the cases. The cases ranged in age from 14 months to 80 years, with the highest numbers of cases in the 20-29 years (9 cases), 30-39 years, 50-59 years, and 70 years and over (8 cases each) age groups.  Of the 25 cases for which place of birth was recorded, 20 (80.0%) were born outside of New Zealand. The Mycobacterium species was recorded in 70.0% (14/20) of the laboratory confirmed cases, all were infected with M. tuberculosis.

VTEC/STEC infection: 19 cases of VTEC/STEC infection were notified in September 2013 compared to nine cases notified during the same month of the previous year (Figure 2). The highest numbers of cases were reported from Canterbury (6 cases), and Waikato (4 cases) DHBs. Age was recorded for 94.7% (18/19) of cases, the cases occurred in the following age groups: 1-4 years (6 cases), less than one year and 30-39 years (3 cases each), 5-9 years and 60-69 years (2 cases each), and 10-14 years and 15-19 years (1 case each). 17 cases were confirmed by the Enteric Reference Laboratory as being infected with VTEC/STEC. The serotype was identified as O157:H7 (16 cases) and non-O157 (1 case). Among the cases for whom risk factor was recorded, 92.9% (13/14) had contact with animals, 53.8% (7/13) had contact with children in nappies, and 28.6% (4/14) had attended school, pre-school or childcare. One finalised E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was reported in September (2 cases) and one interim outbreak (case numbers yet to be determined).