Better health and ageing for all Australians

Fortnightly summary notes

National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System—current CDNA fortnightly report

The Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) holds fortnightly teleconferences to share and evaluate the latest information and developments in communicable diseases surveillance. This report provides a fortnightly summary on diseases of current interest and notifications of Australia's nationally notifiable diseases.

Fortnight 07: 23 March to 05 April 2013


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Multijurisdictional outbreak investigation: Listeriosis

OzFoodNet continues to investigate this outbreak with no new cases identified in the past fortnight. As of 8 April 2013, there were 31 confirmed cases from six jurisdictions. The last confirmed case in this outbreak had an onset of illness on 1 March 2013. Three people have died and one miscarriage was associated with this outbreak.

Evidence gathered from the epidemiological investigation, case histories, laboratory testing, food sampling and traceback information has identified a link between outbreak cases and the consumption of soft cheese. The manufacturer conducted a voluntary recall of a particular batch as a precautionary measure on 18 December 2012. A second recall occurred on 18 January 2013 included all cheeses manufactured on or before 6 January 2013. Investigations are ongoing to identify any further cases and the environmental source of contamination in this outbreak.

Multijurisdictional outbreak investigation: Norovirus

OzFoodNet has commenced an investigation into an outbreak of norovirus infection associated with eating fresh oysters. As of 8 April 2013, there were approximately 200 case reported from Tasmania, 175 from Victoria and 8 from New South Wales. Evidence gathered from epidemiological investigation, case histories and traceback information has identified a link between outbreak cases and the consumption of fresh Tasmanian oysters. To date, there have been no reports of hospitalisation or death associated with this outbreak. Norovirus has been detected in cases, food sampling test results are pending. The affected batches of oysters were harvested from a single lease in southern Tasmania in late March and distributed in Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

The following media releases were issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania. Investigations are continuing to identify cases and confirm the source of infection in this outbreak.

Infant Botulism

NSW Health authorities have notified a case of infant botulism. No source of infection was identified. Infant botulism is a rare disease in Australia with approximately one reported case annually.


Interpretative Notes

Selected diseases are chosen each fortnight based on either exceeding two standard deviations from the 90 day and/or 365 day five year rolling mean or other disease issues of significance identified during the reporting period. All diseases reported are analysed by notification receive date. Data are extracted each Monday of a CDNA week.Top of page

Totals comprise data from all States and Territories. Cumulative figures are subject to retrospective revision so there may be discrepancies between the number of new notifications and the increment in the cumulative figure from the previous period.

1The past quarter (90 day) surveillance period includes the date range 06/01/2013 to 05/042013.
2The quarterly (90 day) five year rolling mean is the average of 5 intervals of 90 days up to 5 April 2013. The ratio is the notification activity in the past quarter (90 days) compared with the five year rolling mean for the same period.
3The past year (365 day) surveillance period includes the date range 06/01/2013 to 05/042013.
4The yearly (365 day) five year rolling mean is the average of 5 intervals of 365 days up to 5 April 2013. The ratio is the notification activity in the past year (365 days) compared with the five year rolling mean for the same period.

The five year rolling mean and the ratio of notifications compared with the five year rolling mean should be interpreted with caution. Changes in surveillance practice, diagnostic techniques and reporting may contribute to increases or decreases in the total notifications received over a five year period. Ratios are to be taken as a crude measure of current disease activity and may reflect changes in reporting rather than changes in disease activity.





NNDSS provisional fortnightly report of notifications from states and territories for the period 23 March to 05 April 2013


Table 1: Total National Notifiable Diseases reported for the period 23 March to 05 April 2013

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ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
96
1,286
221
1,879
433
115
594
1,016
5,640
6,587
8,778
51,352

The following tables provide the figures for National Notifiable Diseases reported for the period 23 March to 05 April 2013:

Table 2a: Bloodborne diseases

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Hepatitis (NEC)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Hepatitis B (newly acquired)
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
4
8
14
60
Hepatitis B (unspecified)
4
71
1
33
6
2
37
36
190
192
268
1,673
Hepatitis C (newly acquired)
1
2
0
NN
1
0
1
2
7
7
19
94
Hepatitis C (unspecified)
7
78
1
87
3
10
68
44
298
375
454
2,594
Hepatitis D
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
1
12

Table 2b: Bloodborne diseases

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Hepatitis (NEC)
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Hepatitis B (newly acquired)
58
59.6
1.0
-
203
239.2
0.8
-
Hepatitis B (unspecified)
1,617
1,755.6
0.9
-
6,487
6,736.4
1.0
-
Hepatitis C (newly acquired)
92
99.0
0.9
-
426
393.0
1.1
-
Hepatitis C (unspecified)
2,504
2,727.0
0.9
-
9,678
10,805.0
0.9
-
Hepatitis D
12
8.0
1.5
-
34
36.2
0.9
-

Table 3a: Gastrointestinal diseases

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Botulism
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Campylobacteriosis
15
NN
8
102
60
23
23
41
272
355
568
3,055
Cryptosporidiosis
1
92
6
32
6
8
127
18
290
329
286
1,677
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
Hepatitis A
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
4
7
6
69
Hepatitis E
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
5
11
Listeriosis
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
2
35
STEC, VTEC
0
0
0
3
2
0
2
0
7
5
7
50
Salmonellosis
5
142
15
137
38
15
172
65
589
596
591
4,403
Shigellosis
0
5
4
3
0
0
2
1
15
12
33
142
Typhoid Fever
0
6
0
0
0
0
3
1
10
8
3
73

Table 3b: Gastrointestinal diseases

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Botulism
1
0.2
5.0
-
1
0.6
1.7
-
Campylobacteriosis
2,884
4,542.2
0.6
-
13,700
16,670.8
0.8
-
Cryptosporidiosis
1,648
1,227.4
1.3
-
3,317
2,614.8
1.3
-
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
6
4.6
1.3
-
21
16.6
1.3
-
Hepatitis A
67
70.2
1.0
-
187
283.4
0.7
-
Hepatitis E
10
13.0
0.8
-
29
36.6
0.8
-
Listeriosis
31
27.0
1.1
-
95
72.2
1.3
-
STEC, VTEC
44
34.0
1.3
-
120
100.2
1.2
-
Salmonellosis
4,192
3,801.8
1.1
-
11,482
10,410.6
1.1
-
Shigellosis
139
195.2
0.7
-
492
628.2
0.8
-
Typhoid Fever
71
43.0
1.7
8.4
140
111.8
1.3
-

Table 4a: Quarantinable diseases

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Cholera
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
HPAIH
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Plague
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rabies
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Smallpox
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Viral haemorrhagic fever (NEC)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Yellow fever
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Table 4b: Quarantinable diseases

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Cholera
0
1.0
0.0
-
9
5.0
1.8
-
HPAIH
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Plague
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Rabies
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Smallpox
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Viral haemorrhagic fever (NEC)
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Yellow fever
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
2.0
0.0
-

Table 5a: Sexually transmissible infections

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Chlamydial infection
36
591
83
643
126
9
1
360
1,849
2,267
3,475
18,693
Donovanosis
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Gonococcal infection
5
129
58
85
12
1
0
60
350
402
543
3,635
Syphilis - congenital
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Syphilis < 2 years
0
1
0
6
3
0
0
3
13
30
46
343
Syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration
2
1
0
10
NDP
4
1
1
19
53
45
372

Table 5b: Sexually transmissible infections

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Chlamydial infection
17,894
18,669.0
1.0
-
77,409
67,632.8
1.1
-
Donovanosis
0
0.6
0.0
-
1
1.6
0.6
-
Gonococcal infection
3,472
2,634.2
1.3
-
13,769
9,422.4
1.5
-
Syphilis - congenital
1
1.6
0.6
-
3
5.0
0.6
-
Syphilis < 2 years
327
348.0
0.9
-
1,573
1,310.2
1.2
42.8
Syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration
359
325.8
1.1
-
1,308
1,354.4
1.0
-

Table 6a: Vaccine preventable diseases

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Diphtheria
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Haemophilus influenzae type b
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
3
Influenza (laboratory confirmed)
8
42
18
112
57
0
35
58
330
429
301
2,451
Measles
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
3
10
Mumps
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
4
11
7
74
Pertussis
4
57
7
107
18
25
79
64
361
414
896
3,984
Pneumococcal disease (invasive)
0
4
0
3
2
0
9
3
21
31
50
244
Poliomyelitis
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Rubella
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Rubella Congenital
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tetanus
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Varicella zoster (Chickenpox)+
2
NN
2
0
8
0
0
9
21
18
46
296
Varicella zoster (Shingles)+
1
NN
3
0
37
4
0
26
71
78
168
948
Varicella zoster (Unspecified)+
3
NN
0
196
37
11
0
64
311
302
314
2,275

Table 6b: Vaccine preventable diseases

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Diphtheria
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.8
0.0
-
Haemophilus influenzae type b
3
4.4
0.7
-
15
20.0
0.8
-
Influenza (laboratory confirmed)
2,340
1,808.6
1.3
-
45,720
24,114.0
1.9
-
Measles
10
42.8
0.2
-
200
89.6
2.2
18.0
Mumps
73
60.2
1.2
-
230
258.4
0.9
-
Pertussis
3,777
6,965.0
0.5
-
20,525
25,698.2
0.8
-
Pneumococcal disease (invasive)
220
223.6
1.0
-
1,807
1,645.8
1.1
-
Poliomyelitis
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.2
0.0
-
Rubella
1
12.4
0.1
-
23
41.0
0.6
-
Rubella Congenital
0
0.2
0.0
-
1
0.4
2.5
-
Tetanus
3
1.4
2.1
-
8
3.4
2.4
0.5
Varicella zoster (Chickenpox)+
282
339.2
0.8
-
1,827
1,819.6
1.0
-
Varicella zoster (Shingles)+
886
826.8
1.1
-
4,198
2,840.4
1.5
-
Varicella zoster (Unspecified)+
2,143
1,669.8
1.3
-
8,562
6,298.0
1.4
-

Table 7a: Vectorborne diseases

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Arbovirus infection (NEC)
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
6
Barmah Forest virus infection
1
21
10
148
3
0
4
82
269
301
79
1,502
Dengue virus infection
0
5
1
18
4
1
1
14
44
51
74
424
Japanese encephalitis virus infection
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kunjin virus infection
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Malaria
1
5
0
5
0
0
4
2
17
10
7
147
Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Ross River virus infection
0
14
4
118
3
1
6
46
192
219
367
1,413

Table 7b: Vectorborne diseases

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Arbovirus infection (NEC)
6
3.8
1.6
0.0
19
16.0
1.2
-
Barmah Forest virus infection
1,459
634.6
2.3
404.6
2,717
1,727.4
1.6
403.8
Dengue virus infection
411
487.8
0.8
-
1,253
979.8
1.3
-
Japanese encephalitis virus infection
0
0.2
0.0
-
0
0.4
0.0
-
Kunjin virus infection
0
0.8
1.3
-
-
0.6
0.6
-
Malaria
139
105.6
1.3
-
404
465.6
0.9
-
Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection
0
1.8
0.0
-
0
4.6
0.0
-
Ross River virus infection
1,383
2,270.0
0.6
-
3,779
5,199.6
0.7
-

Table 8a: Zoonoses

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Anthrax
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Australian bat lyssavirus
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Brucellosis
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
8
Leptospirosis
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
4
1
11
17
Lyssavirus (NEC)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ornithosis
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
7
Q fever
0
2
0
11
0
0
0
0
13
11
22
94
Tularaemia
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Table 8b: Zoonoses

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Anthrax
0
0.2
0.0
-
0
0.2
0.0
-
Australian bat lyssavirus
1
0.0
0.0
-
1
0.0
0.0
-
Brucellosis
7
8.6
0.8
-
25
34.4
0.7
-
Leptospirosis
17
56.0
0.3
-
94
139.0
0.7
-
Lyssavirus (NEC)
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
0.0
0.0
-
Ornithosis
7
16.8
0.4
-
68
80.0
0.9
-
Q fever
90
95.2
0.9
-
342
360.2
0.9
-
Tularaemia
0
0.0
0.0
-
0
2.0
0.0
-

Table 9a: Other bacterial infections

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Disease
ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
This Reporting Period
Previous Reporting Period
Same Reporting Period Last Year
2013 YTD
Legionellosis
0
2
0
0
4
1
3
4
14
14
17
96
Leprosy
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Meningococcal disease (invasive)
0
1
0
3
2
0
0
1
7
8
3
41
Tuberculosis
0
9
0
7
1
0
10
6
33
33
43
305

Table 9b: Other bacterial infections

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Disease
Past Quarter
Quarterly Rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past Quarter /5 year mean
Exceeds Quarterly rolling mean +2 SD by
Past Year
Yearly rolling 5 year mean
Ratio Past year /5 year mean
Exceeds yearly rolling mean +2 SD by
Legionellosis
93
73.8
1.3
-
376
311.4
1.2
-
Leprosy
2
1.6
1.3
-
9
9.6
0.9
-
Meningococcal disease (invasive)
37
43.8
0.8
-
227
261.8
0.9
-
Tuberculosis
292
309.6
0.9
-
1,293
1,292.0
1.0
-
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Footnotes:
* Ratio of the 90 day prior surveillance period to the past 90 day 5 year rolling mean, or ratio of the 365 day prior surveillance period to the 365 day 5 year rolling mean. NN = Not Notifiable, NDP = No data provided, NEC = Not elsewhere classified.

Dates used are:

Past Quarter (90d prior surveillance period): 06/01/2013 to 05/04/2013
Quarterly rolling 5Yr Mean (90d 5Yr Mean):
Quarterly rolling 5Yr Mean (90d 5Yr Mean) 1: 07/01/2012 to 05/04/2012
Quarterly rolling 5Yr Mean (90d 5Yr Mean) 2: 06/01/2011 to 05/04/2011
Quarterly rolling 5Yr Mean (90d 5Yr Mean) 3: 06/01/2010 to 05/04/2010
Quarterly rolling 5Yr Mean (90d 5Yr Mean) 4: 06/01/2009 to 05/04/2009
Quarterly rolling 5Yr Mean (90d 5Yr Mean) 5: 24/12/2008 to 05/04/2008

Past year (365d prior surveillance period): 06/04/2012 to 05/04/2013
Yearly rolling 5Yr Mean (365d 5Yr Mean):
Yearly rolling 5Yr Mean (365d 5Yr Mean) 2: 07/04/2011 to 05/04/2012
Yearly rolling 5Yr Mean (365d 5Yr Mean) 2: 06/04/2010 to 05/04/2011
Yearly rolling 5Yr Mean (365d 5Yr Mean) 3: 06/04/2009 to 05/04/2010
Yearly rolling 5Yr Mean (365d 5Yr Mean) 4: 06/04/2008 to 05/04/2009
Yearly rolling 5Yr Mean (365d 5Yr Mean) 5: 07/04/2007 to 05/04/2008


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Help with accessing large documents

When accessing large documents (over 500 KB in size), it is recommended that the following procedure be used:

  1. Click the link with the RIGHT mouse button
  2. Choose "Save Target As.../Save Link As..." depending on your browser
  3. Select an appropriate folder on a local drive to place the downloaded file

Attempting to open large documents within the browser window (by left-clicking) may inhibit your ability to continue browsing while the document is opening and/or lead to system problems.

Help with accessing PDF documents

To view PDF (Portable Document Format) documents, you will need to have a PDF reader installed on your computer. A number of PDF readers are available through the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) Web Guide website.