Monthly Notifiable Disease Surveillance Report - Dec 2013

Campylobacteriosis: 898 cases of campylobacteriosis were notified in December 2013 compared to 707 cases notified during the same month of the previous year. For the 12 month period ending 31 December 2013, the highest DHB rates were in South Canterbury (295.3 per 100 000 population, 167 cases), Hawke’s Bay (216.2 per 100 000 population, 336 cases), and Taranaki (213.9 per 100 000 population, 236 cases) compared to a national rate of 154.2 per 100 000 population. Eight finalised Campylobacter outbreaks involving 32 cases were reported in December 2013.

Giardiasis: 145 cases of giardiasis were notified in December 2013 compared to 113 cases notified during the same month of the previous year (Figure 1). The highest numbers of cases were reported from the Auckland region (47 cases). Among the cases where risk factor information was recorded, 54.2% (32/59) had contact with faecal matter, 39.0% (23/59) had consumed water from an untreated supply, and 38.7% (24/62) had contact with other symptomatic people. Nine Giardia outbreaks were reported in December 2013, including six finalised outbreaks (19 cases) and three interim outbreaks (case numbers yet to be determined).

Hepatitis NOS: Two cases of hepatitis NOS were notified in December 2013, one of the cases has since been found to not meet case criteria after further investigation. The other case was a female in the 40-49 years age group from Auckland DHB and is currently still under investigation.

Hydatid disease: One confirmed case of hydatid disease was notified in December 2013. The case was a male in the 60-69 years age group from Auckland DHB, diagnosed with pulmonary hydatid disease in 1958.

Invasive pneumococcal disease: 37 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were notified in December 2013 compared to 26 cases notified during the same month of the previous year. The highest numbers of cases were reported from Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Southern DHBs (5 cases each). Cases occurred in all age groups, with the highest numbers reported in the 50-59 years and 70+ years age groups (10 cases each). Thirty-three cases were hospitalised and one death from invasive pneumococcal disease was reported. Of the cases where risk factor information was recorded, 37.5% (12/32) had a chronic illness, 21.4% (6/28) were smokers, and 18.2% (6/33) had chronic lung disease or cystic fibrosis.

Leprosy: One probable case of leprosy was notified in December 2013. The case was a male in the 40-49 years age group from Waikato DHB. The case was in India during the incubation period.

Measles: Six cases of measles were notified in December 2013 (all cases were confirmed) compared to no cases notified during the same month of the previous year. Cases were reported from Lakes (5 cases) and Counties Manukau (1 case) DHBs. Cases were in the 15-19 years (4 cases) and the 5-9 years (2 cases) age groups. No hospitalisations or deaths were reported. All of the cases were unimmunised. Of the cases for which risk factor information was recorded, 80.0% (4/5) reported contact with another measles case in the previous three weeks and 50.0% (3/6) reported overseas travel during the incubation period.

Rheumatic fever: 29 cases of rheumatic fever (27 initial attacks and 2 recurrent attacks) were notified in December 2013 compared to seven cases notified during the same month of the previous year. 41% (12/29) cases had an onset date recorded prior to December 2013. Of the 27 cases with hospitalisation status recorded, 85.2% (23/27) were hospitalised. The highest number of cases was reported from the Auckland region (16 cases). Ethnicity was reported for 96.6% (28/29) cases with the highest number of cases in the Pacific Peoples (14 cases), followed by Māori (9 cases), Asian (3 cases) and European or Other (2 cases) ethnic groups. The cases ranged in age from six to 27 years, with the highest numbers of cases in the 10-14 years (11 cases) and 5-9 years (7 cases) age groups.

Shigellosis: 10 cases of shigellosis were notified in December 2013, one of these cases has since been found to not meet case criteria after further investigation. Six cases were notified in the same month of the previous year (Figure 2). The highest number of cases was reported from the Auckland region (8 cases). The serotype involved was recorded for all cases: Shigella sonnei biotype g (3 cases), Shigella flexneri 2a and Shigella flexneri 3a (2 cases each), Shigella flexneri 2b (1 case) and Shigella flexneri y variant (1 case). Information was available for 88.9% (8/9) cases for overseas travel. Four cases had travelled overseas and countries visited included India (2 cases), and Cambodia, Thailand, Tonga and Vietnam (1 case each). Two cases visited more than one country. One finalised Shigella outbreak involving two cases was reported in December 2013.

Taeniasis: Two confirmed cases of taeniasis were notified in December 2013. One case was a male in the 30-39 years age group from Waitemata DHB and was in Cambodia during the incubation period. The other case was a male in the 20-29 years age group from Capital and Coast DHB. Travel history was unknown as the case was unable to be contacted.