Monthly Notifiable Disease Surveillance Report - Sep 2020

Overall decrease in notifications: There was a decrease in the incidence of most notifiable diseases in September 2020, compared with September 2019. This is most likely due to behavioural changes as a result of public health messaging about the COVID-19 pandemic, and the dramatic reduction in overseas travel.

COVID-19: There were 95 cases of COVID-19 reported in September 2020 (89 confirmed, 5 probable and 1 under investigation). Of the 94 confirmed or probable cases, 44 (46.8%) were imported cases in managed isolation/quarantine (MIQ) facilities at the time of diagnosis, 37 were linked to the Auckland community outbreak, including one MIQ staff member, seven cases were linked to a Christchurch to Auckland flight for people leaving an MIQ facility, and six were historical cases. Four cases were hospitalised and no deaths were reported. More information can be found on the ESR COVID-19 dashboard.

Legionellosis: There were 16 cases of legionellosis (15 confirmed and 1 under investigation) notified in September 2020, similar to the 15 cases notified in September 2019. Of the 12 confirmed cases where the species was identified, all were due to Legionella longbeachae (commonly found in soil and potting mix). Information on legionellosis is available on the Ministry of Health website here.

OUTBREAKS

Respiratory illness: Seven respiratory illness outbreaks were reported in September 2020 from six DHBs. Two outbreaks were due to rhinovirus, two were acute respiratory infection, two were COVID-19 and one was influenza-like illness. The five outbreaks that were not due to COVID-19 were in long-term care facilities.

One COVID-19 outbreak, reported to Auckland DHB, involved seven cases linked to a government-chartered flight from Christchurch to Auckland for people leaving a Christchurch MIQ facility. The other COVID-19 outbreak was a historical outbreak from February 2020, involving six cases linked to a visiting family member from Italy.