Monthly Notifiable Disease Surveillance Report - Apr 2014

Chikungunya fever: One probable case was notified in April 2014. The case was a female in the 50–59 years age group from Auckland DHB and was in Tonga during the incubation period.

Dengue fever: 21 cases of dengue fever were notified in April 2014 (20 confirmed and 1 under investigation) compared to 34 cases notified during the previous month and 6 during the same month of the previous year (Figure 1). All of the cases had travelled overseas during the incubation period. The countries visited were Fiji (10 cases), Vanuatu (3 cases), Tonga, Cook Islands (2 cases each), and French Polynesia, India, Malaysia, Solomon Islands (1 case each).

Haemophilus influenzae type b: Four cases were notified in April 2014 (1 confirmed and 3 under investigation) compared to zero cases notified during the previous month and during the same month of the previous year. The confirmed case was a female in the 70 years and over age group from Auckland DHB. After further investigation one case has since been found to not meet the case criteria.

Hepatitis C: Five cases were notified in April 2014 (2 confirmed and 3 under investigation) compared to four cases notified during the previous month and two cases notified during the same month of the previous year (Figure 2). All five cases were from the European or Other ethnic group. Four cases were from Canterbury DHB and one from Auckland DHB. The age range for cases was 25–62 years. The confirmed cases had risk factors recorded which indicated a history of injecting drug use. After further investigation two cases have since been found to not meet the case criteria.

Hepatitis not otherwise specified (NOS): Two cases were notified in April 2014. After further investigation these cases have since been found to not meet the case criteria.

Hydatid disease: One case was notified in April 2014. The case was a male in the 60–69 years age group from Counties Manukau DHB. The case is still under investigation as further information is pending.

Ross River virus infection: One confirmed case was notified in April 2014. The case was a male in the 20–29 years age group from South Canterbury DHB and was in the Australia during the incubation period.

Toxic shellfish poisoning: One probable case was notified in April 2014. The case was a female in the 70 years and over age group from Auckland DHB. The case had collected and consumed cooked pipis and tuatuas.

Zika virus: 19 cases were notified in April 2014 (1 confirmed, 6 probable, 12 under investigation). Fourteen cases were female and five male. The age range for cases was 15–73 years with the highest number of cases in the 20–29 years age group (8 cases). Cases were distributed by DHB as follows: Auckland (9 cases), Waitemata (5 cases), Counties Manukau (2 cases), and Southern, Taranaki, Waikato (1 case each). All cases were in the Cook Islands during the incubation period.