This article {extract} was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Vol 31 No 1 March 2007 and may be downloaded as a full version PDF from the Table of contents page.

Other communicable disease surveillance, continued

Australian Sentinel Practice Research Network

The Research and Health Promotion Unit of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners operates the Australian Sentinel Practice Research Network (ASPREN). ASPREN is a national network of general practitioners that report each week on a number of conditions selected annually. Sentinel general practices contributing to the ASPREN scheme are mostly located in capital cities and larger regional centres on the east coast of Australia. The data provide an indicator of the burden of disease in the primary care setting and allows trends in consultation rates to be detected.

In 2005, influenza-like illnesses (ILI), gastroenteritis, and varicella infections (chickenpox and shingles) were the communicable diseases reported to ASPREN. Each week an average of 29 general practitioners (range 15–36) provided information from an average of 2,996 (range 1,081–3,698) consultations per week.

During 2005, a rise in reports of Influenza-like illness (ILI) to ASPREN was evident from mid-June (week 24), one week earlier than in 2004 (Figure 68). In 2005, the peak ILI rate was observed in early August (week 32) at 42 cases per 1,000 consultations, which was over twice the peak rate in 2004.

Figure 68. Consultation rate of influenza-like illness, ASPREN, 2005 compared with 2004, by week of report

Consultations for gastroenteritis fluctuated between 9 to 24 cases per 1,000 consultations. Rates reported for 2005, appeared to be similar to 2004 (Figure 69).

Figure 69. Consultation rate of gastroenteritis, ASPREN, 2005 compared with 2004, by week of report

Reports of varicella infections were available only from week 13 in 2005. Rates of shingles exceeded those for chickenpox in most weeks but there was no recognisable seasonal pattern (Figure 70).

Figure 70. Consultation rate for varicella infections, ASPREN, 2005, by week of report