Table 4a. Notifications and notification rate for communicable diseases, Australia, 2002 to 2006, (per 100,000 population)

Disease	Notifications					Rates
	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Bloodborne diseases
Hepatitis (NEC)	0	0	0	0	1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Hepatitis B (incident)*	391	347	283	251	295	2.0	1.7	1.4	1.2	1.4
Hepatitis B (unspecified)*,†	6,684	5,812	5,786	6,336	6,296	34.0	29.2	28.8	31.2	30.6
Hepatitis C (incident)	452	519	453	374	431	2.8	3.2	2.8	2.3	2.6
Hepatitis C (unspecified)*	15,618	13,674	12,760	12,023	12,057	79.5	68.8	63.4	59.1	58.5
Hepatitis D	22	27	29	30	31	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2
Gastrointestinal diseases
Botulism	0	1	1	3	1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Campylobacteriosis	14,732	15,361	15,579	16,488	15,398	113.3	116.4	116.4	121.6	111.8
Cryptosporidiosis‡	3,273	1,223	1,684	3,211	3,201	16.7	6.2	8.4	15.8	15.5
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome	13	15	16	20	13	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Hepatitis A	392	431	319	326	280	2.0	2.2	1.6	1.6	1.4
Hepatitis E	12	12	28	30	23	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Listeriosis	62	69	67	54	61	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3
Salmonellosis	7,880	7,008	7,838	8,425	8,261	40.1	35.2	39.0	41.4	40.1
Shigellosis	507	442	520	729	543	2.6	2.2	2.6	3.6	2.6
STEC, VTEC	59	52	49	86	70	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.4	0.3
Typhoid	69	51	76	52	78	0.4	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.4
Quarantinable diseases
Cholera	5	1	5	3	3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Highly pathogenic avian influenza	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Plague	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Rabies	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Severe acute respiratory syndrome	NN	NN	0	0	0	NN	NN	0.0	0.0	0.0
Smallpox	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Viral haemorrhagic fever	0	0	0	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	0.0	0.0
Sexually transmissible diseases
Chlamydial infections (NEC)||	24,437	30,441	36,221	41,376	46,954	124.4	153.1	180.1	203.5	227.9
Donovanosis	17	16	10	13	4	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.1	0.0
Gonococcal infection	6,433	6,790	7,184	8,083	8,547	32.8	34.2	35.7	39.8	41.5
Syphilis (all)¶	2,010	2,017	2,341	2,222	2,436	10.2	10.1	11.6	10.9	11.8
Syphilis – <2 years duration	NN	NN	618	632	813	NN	NN	3.1	3.1	3.9
Syphilis – >2 years or unspecified duration	NN	NN	1723	1590	1,623	NN	NN	8.6	7.8	7.9
Syphilis – congenital	18	13	13	15	14	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Vaccine preventable diseases
Diphtheria	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Haemophilus influenzae type b	31	19	15	17	22	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Influenza (laboratory confirmed)**	3,669	3,479	2,134	4,565	3,159	18.7	17.5	10.6	22.5	15.3
Measles	32	93	45	10	125	0.2	0.5	0.2	0.0	0.6
Mumps	69	77	102	241	275	0.4	0.4	0.5	1.2	1.3
Pertussis	5,564	5,096	8,755	11,197	10,998	28.3	25.6	43.5	55.1	53.4
Pneumococcal disease (invasive)	2,415	2,233	2,370	1,749	1,443	12.3	11.2	11.8	8.6	7.0
Poliomyelitis	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Rubella	253	54	31	31	59	1.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.3
Rubella – congenital	2	3	1	1	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tetanus	4	4	5	2	3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Varicella zoster (chickenpox)	NN	NN	NN	NN	1,514	NN	NN	NN	NN	18.1
Varicella zoster (shingles)	NN	NN	NN	NN	1,077	NN	NN	NN	NN	12.9
Varicella zoster (unspecified)	NN	NN	NN	NN	3,565	NN	NN	NN	NN	42.7
Vectorborne diseases
Barmah Forest virus infection	910	1,367	1,106	1,322	2,120	4.6	6.9	5.5	6.5	10.3
Dengue virus infection	171	860	351	221	187	0.9	4.3	1.7	1.1	0.9
Flavivirus infection (NEC)‡‡	73	60	61	29	33	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.1	0.2
Japanese encephalitis virus infection	0	1	1	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Kunjin virus infection	0	18	12	1	3	0.0	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0
Malaria	468	592	556	823	775	2.4	3.0	2.8	4.0	3.8
Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection	2	0	1	2	1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Ross River virus infection	1,458	3,850	4,209	2,546	5,487	7.4	19.4	20.9	12.5	26.6
Zoonoses
Anthrax	0	0	0	0	1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Australian bat lyssavirus	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Brucellosis	40	20	38	41	49	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2
Leptospirosis	160	126	177	129	147	0.8	0.6	0.9	0.6	0.7
Lyssavirus (NEC)	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Ornithosis	213	200	239	164	168	1.1	1.0	1.2	0.8	0.8
Q fever	796	563	464	355	402	4.1	2.8	2.3	1.7	2.0
Tularaemia	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other bacterial infections
Legionellosis	315	333	312	334	348	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.7
Leprosy	6	5	7	10	5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Meningococcal infection¶¶	690	558	405	392	318	3.5	2.8	2.0	1.9	1.5
Tuberculosis	1,128	1,035	1,127	1,083	1,229	5.7	5.2	5.6	5.3	6.0
Total	101,555	104,968	113,786	125,415	138,511

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* Unspecified hepatitis includes cases in whom the duration of infection could not be determined.

† In Queensland, includes incident hepatitis cases.

‡ Notified as 'foodborne disease' or 'gastroenteritis in an institution' in New South Wales.

§ Infection with Shiga toxin-/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC).

|| Includes Chlamydia trachomatis identified from cervical, rectal, urine, urethral, throat and eye samples, except for South Australia, which reports only genital tract specimens; the Northern Territory, which excludes ocular specimens; and Western Australia, which excludes ocular and perinatal infections.

¶ Does not include congenital syphilis.

** Laboratory-confirmed influenza is not a notifiable disease in South Australia but reports are forwarded to NNDSS.

‡‡ Flavivirus (NEC) replaced Arbovirus (NEC) from 1 January 2004.

§§ In the Australian Capital Territory, Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection and Kunjin virus infection are combined under Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection.

¶¶ Only invasive meningococcal disease is nationally notifiable. However, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia also report conjunctival cases.

NN Not notifiable.

NEC Not elsewhere classified.

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Table 4b. Earliest notification year for which NNDSS contains disease data, Australia, by state or territory*

Disease†	Earliest year for which NNDSS contains data*								Year from which NNDSS reporting commenced in annual reports	Exceptions to national reporting
	ACT	NSW	NT	Qld	SA	Tas.	Vic.	WA
Bloodborne diseases
Hepatitis (NEC)	1991	1991	–	–	1990	–	1991	–	1991 to present	Includes reports of hepatitis D and E 1991–1998 WA did not report 1991–2000
Hepatitis B (incident)	1992	1992	1991	1991	1996	1995	1993	1993	1993 to present
Hepatitis B (unspecified)	1991	1990	2005	1985	1996	1991	1991	1990	1991 to present	Includes reports of incident hepatitis B 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995
Hepatitis C (incident)	1991	1992	2003	NN	1995	1995	1997	1993	1993 to present	Not notifiable in Qld
Hepatitis C (unspecified)	1991	1991	1991	1990	1995	1991	1991	1993	1991 to present	Includes reports of incident hepatitis C 1991–1994 SA did not report 1991–1994 WA did not report 1991–1992
Hepatitis D	–	1992	1997	1992	1998	–	1995	2002	1999 to present	WA did not report 1991–2000
Gastrointestinal diseases
Botulism	–	1999	2000	2001	1998	–	2000	–	1992 to present
Campylobacteriosis	1991	NN	1991	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present	Not notifiable in NSW
Cryptosporidiosis	1995	1996	1998	1996	1993	1998	1998	2000	2001 to present
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome	2007	1997	2002	1997	1995	1996	1998	1996	1999 to present
Hepatitis A	1991	1990	1990	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present
Hepatitis E	1999	1993	1993	1991	1997	1997	1995	2001	1999 to present	WA did not report 1991–2000
Listeriosis	1993	1991	1995	1991	1992	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present	ACT and SA did not report 1991 NT did not report 1991–1992
Salmonellosis	1991	1990	1991	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present
Shigellosis	1991	2001	1991	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present	NSW reported only as 'foodborne disease' or 'gastroenteritis in an institution' 1991–2000
STEC, VTEC	2007	1998	1999	1996	1996	2005	1997	2001	1999 to present	WA did not report 1999–2000
Typhoid‡	1992	1991	1992	1991	1990	1994	1991	1991	1991 to present
Quarantinable diseases
Cholera	1995	1993	–	1992	1992	–	1994	1992	1991 to present
Highly pathogenic avian influenza	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2004 to present
Plague	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1991 to present	Tas did not report 1991–1995
Rabies	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1991 to present	ACT did not report 1991 NSW did not report 1991–1998
Severe acute respiratory syndrome	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2003 to present
Smallpox	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2004 to present
Viral haemorrhagic fever	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1991 to present	ACT did not report 1991
Yellow fever	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	1991 to present
Sexually transmissible infections
Chlamydial infection	1991	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991	1993	1991 to present
Donovanosis	–	–	1991	1991	–	–	–	1991	1991 to present	NSW and SA did not report 1991–2001 Tas did not report 1991–1992
Gonococcal infection§	1991	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present
Syphilis – all||	1991	1991	1990	–	1991	–	1991	1991	1991 to present
Syphilis < 2 years	1995	1992	2003	1991	1990	2004	1997	1995	2004 to present
Syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration	2004	1991	2001	1988	2004	1991	1997	1992	2004 to present
Syphilis – congenital	–	1992	1995	1991	–	–	1995	1990	2003 to present
Vaccine preventable diseases
Diphtheria	–	–	1992	–	1993	–	1991	–	1991 to present
Haemophilus influenzae type b	1991	1991	1992	1991	1990	1991	1991	1993	1991 to present	WA did not report 1991–1992
Influenza (laboratory confirmed)	1993	2001	1999	2001	2001	2002	2000	2000	2001 to present	Not notifiable in SA 2001–2007 however data has been provided since 2001
Measles	1991	1990	1991	1988	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present
Mumps	1992	1992	1994	1996	1993	1995	1994	1993	1992 to present	Qld did not report 1992–1995 and 2000 NT did not report 1992–1993 WA and SA did not report 1992 Tas did not report 1992–1994
Pertussis	1991	1990	1992	1991	1990	1991	1991	1990	1991 to present
Pneumococcal disease (invasive)	1993	2001	1995	1991	2001	1991	2000	2000	2001 to present
Poliomyelitis	–	–	–	–	–	–	2007	–	1991 to present
Rubella¶	1991	1991	1991	1991	1990	1991	1991	1993	1991 to present	Tas did not report 1992–1994
Rubella – congenital	–	1993	–	2002	1990	–	2005	2002	2003 to present
Tetanus	–	1991	1991	1997	1990	1992	1992	1991	1991 to present	Qld did not report 1991–1993
Varicella zoster (chickenpox)**	1993	NN	2006	2006	2006	2004	NN	2006	2006 to present	Not notifiable in NSW or Vic.
Varicella zoster (shingles)**	1997	NN	2006	2006	2006	2006	NN	2006	2006 to present	Not notifiable in NSW or Vic.
Varicella zoster (unspecified)**	2006	NN	2006	2005	2006	2006	NN	2006	2006 to present	Not notifiable in NSW or Vic.
Vectorborne diseases
Barmah Forest virus infection	1995	1992	1992	1992	1993	1999	1995	1994	1995 to present
Dengue virus infection	1993	1992	1992	1991	1992	1995	1991	1994	1991 to present	ACT did not report 1991–1992
Flavivirus infection (NEC)††,‡‡	2001	1991	1992	1991	1990	–	1991	–	1991 to present	Includes Japanese encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin 1991–2000
Japanese encephalitis virus infection	–	–	–	1995	–	–	–	1998	2001 to present
Kunjin virus infection	–	1996	1992	1996	–	–	2001	1997	2001 to present	Reported under Murray Valley encephalitis in the ACT
Malaria	1991	1991	1991	1991	1990	1989	1991	1990	1991 to present
Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection	–	2008	1991	1991	2001	–	–	1991	2001 to present	Combined with Kunjin in the ACT
Ross River virus infection	1992	1991	1991	1991	1992	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present
Zoonoses
Anthrax	–	2006	–	1998	–	–	2007	–	2001 to present
Australian bat lyssavirus	–	–	–	1998	–	–	–	–	2001 to present
Brucellosis	1998	1991	–	1991	1995	2007	1991	1996	1991 to present
Leptospirosis	1994	1990	1992	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1991 to present
Lyssavirus (NEC)	2001	2001	2001	2001	2001	2001	2001	2001	2001 to present
Ornithosis	1991	2001	1991	1992	1990	1993	1991	1991	1991 to present	NSW did not report 1991–2000 Qld did not report 1997–2001
Q fever	1991	1991	2002	1991	1990	2000	1991	1991	1991 to present
Tularaemia	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2004 to present
Other bacterial infections
Legionellosis	1991	1991	1992	1991	1990	1992	1991	1991	1991 to present
Leprosy	1992	1992	1991	1997	1991	2007	1991	1991	1991 to present
Meningococcal infection	1991	1991	1991	1991	1990	1991	1991	1990	1991 to present
Tuberculosis	1991	1990	1991	1991	1991	1987	1992	1991	1991 to present

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* Data from NNDSS annual reports from 1991. First full year of reporting to the Commonwealth is shown. Some diseases may have been notifiable to state or territory health departments before the dates shown here.

† Prior to the implementation of the national case definitions in 2001, jurisdictions notified diseases according to their own case definition

‡ Includes paratyphoid in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

§ Includes neonatal ophthalmia in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria.

|| Includes syphilis – congenital from 1991 to 2002.

¶ Includes rubella – congenital from 1991 to 2002.

** Varicella data from the Australian Capital Territory were provided in 2008 and were not provided at the time data for the 2006 report were finalised.

†† Before 1997, includes Ross River virus infection, dengue virus infection and Barmah Forest virus infection.

‡‡ Flavivirus (NEC) replaced arbovirus (NEC) 1 January 2004.

NNNot notifiable.

– No cases reported to NNDSS.

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In 2006, the total number of notifications was the highest recorded in NNDSS since the system began in 1991. There was an increase of 10.4% compared with the total number of notifications in 2005 (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Trends in notifications received by the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, Australia, 1991 to 2006

In 2006, the most frequently notified diseases were sexually transmissible infection (57,941 notifications, 42% of total notifications), gastrointestinal diseases (27,931 notifications, 20% of total notifications) and vaccine preventable diseases (22,240 notifications, 16% of total notifications).

There were 19,111 notifications of bloodborne diseases; 8,606 notifications of vectorborne diseases; 1,900 notifications of other bacterial infections; 767 notifications of zoonoses and 3 notifications of quarantinable diseases (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Notifications to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, Australia, 2006, by disease category

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The major changes in communicable disease notifications in 2006 are shown in Figure 4 as the ratio of notifications in 2006 to the mean number of notifications for the previous 5 years. Notifications of Barmah Forest virus infection, brucellosis, chlamydial infections, cryptosporidiosis, measles, mumps and Ross River virus infection were above the 5-year mean. Notifications below the 5-year mean were dengue virus infection, donovanosis, hepatitis A, meningococcal infection and pneumococcal disease (invasive). Notifications for the remaining diseases were within the historical range.

Figure 4. Comparison of total notifications of selected diseases reported to the National Notifiable Diseases System in 2006, with the previous 5-year mean

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