This article {extract} was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Vol 34 No 3 September 2010 and may be downloaded as a full version PDF from the Table of contents page.
Results
There were 160,508 communicable disease notifications received by NNDSS in 2008 (Table 4).
Table 4: Notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, Australia, 2008, by disease category rank order
Disease category |
Number | % |
|---|---|---|
| Sexually transmitted infections | 69,459 |
43.3 |
| Vaccine preventable diseases | 34,225 |
21.3 |
| Gastrointestinal diseases | 27,308 |
17.0 |
| Bloodborne diseases | 18,207 |
11.3 |
| Vectorborne diseases | 8,876 |
5.5 |
| Other bacterial diseases | 1,796 |
1.1 |
| Zoonoses | 633 |
0.4 |
| Quarantinable diseases | 4 |
<0.1 |
| Total | 160,508 |
100.0 |
In 2008, the most frequently notified diseases were sexually transmissible infections (69,459 notifications, 43.3% of total notifications), vaccine preventable diseases (34,225 notifications, 21.3% of total notifications) and gastrointestinal diseases (27,308 notifications, 17% of total notifications).
There were 18,207 notifications of bloodborne diseases; 8,876 notifications of vectorborne diseases; 1,796 notifications of other bacterial infections; 633 notifications of zoonoses and 4 notifications of quarantinable diseases. In 2008, the total number of notifications was the highest recorded in the NNDSS since the surveillance system commenced data collection in 1991. There was an increase of 9% compared with the total number of notifications in 2007 (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Trends in notifications received by the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, Australia, 1991 to 2008
Notifications and notification rates per 100,000 population for each disease by state or territory, in 2008, are shown in Table 5 and Table 6 respectively. Trends in notifications and rates per 100,000 population for the period 2003 to 2008 are shown in Table 7.
Table 5: Notifications of communicable diseases, Australia, 2008, by state or territory
Disease |
State or territory | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | NSW | NT* | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA | Aust | |
Bloodborne diseases |
|||||||||
| Hepatitis (NEC) | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Hepatitis B (newly acquired)† | 1 |
46 |
8 |
45 |
11 |
12 |
88 |
34 |
245 |
| Hepatitis B (unspecified) | 67 |
2,555 |
197 |
843 |
417 |
58 |
1,832 |
631 |
6,600 |
| Hepatitis C (newly acquired)† | 5 |
24 |
6 |
NN |
65 |
24 |
154 |
103 |
381 |
| Hepatitis C (unspecified)‡,§ | 195 |
3,555 |
222 |
2,634 |
515 |
324 |
2,252 |
1,241 |
10,938 |
| Hepatitis D | 0 |
14 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
42 |
Gastrointestinal diseases |
|||||||||
| Botulism | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Campylobacteriosis|| | 381 |
NN |
257 |
4,821 |
1,992 |
475 |
5,780 |
1,829 |
15,535 |
| Cryptosporidiosis | 11 |
484 |
102 |
695 |
63 |
36 |
449 |
165 |
2,005 |
| Haemolytic uraemic syndrome | 0 |
17 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
31 |
| Hepatitis A | 5 |
69 |
3 |
71 |
20 |
1 |
85 |
22 |
276 |
| Hepatitis E | 0 |
14 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
44 |
| Listeriosis | 1 |
34 |
0 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
8 |
68 |
| Salmonellosis | 132 |
2,261 |
497 |
2,047 |
661 |
206 |
1,651 |
855 |
8,310 |
| Shigellosis | 3 |
109 |
175 |
97 |
137 |
4 |
134 |
169 |
828 |
| STEC,VTEC¶ | 0 |
19 |
0 |
37 |
39 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
106 |
| Typhoid | 0 |
43 |
1 |
18 |
3 |
0 |
32 |
8 |
105 |
Quarantinable diseases |
|||||||||
| Cholera | 0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
| Highly pathogenic avian influenza in humans | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Plague | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rabies | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Severe acute respiratory syndrome | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Smallpox | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Viral haemorrhagic fever | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow fever | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Sexually transmitted infections |
|||||||||
| Chlamydial infection** | 988 |
14,019 |
2,296 |
15,197 |
3,653 |
1,481 |
12,210 |
8,640 |
58,484 |
| Donovanosis | 0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Gonococcal infection†† | 21 |
1,332 |
1,567 |
1,638 |
521 |
25 |
926 |
1,693 |
7,723 |
| Syphilis – all‡‡ | 36 |
1,407 |
253 |
390 |
52 |
22 |
793 |
290 |
3,243 |
| Syphilis < 2 years duration‡ | 4 |
416 |
83 |
187 |
52 |
7 |
374 |
180 |
1,303 |
| Syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration‡ | 32 |
991 |
170 |
203 |
NDP |
15 |
419 |
110 |
1,940 |
| Syphilis – congenital | 0 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Vaccine preventable diseases |
|||||||||
| Diphtheria | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b | 0 |
9 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
0 |
25 |
| Influenza (laboratory confirmed)§§ | 244 |
1,814 |
199 |
3,703 |
473 |
388 |
1,300 |
1,016 |
9,137 |
| Measles | 0 |
39 |
3 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
65 |
| Mumps | 0 |
77 |
53 |
29 |
17 |
2 |
13 |
95 |
286 |
| Pertussis | 145 |
7,818 |
477 |
2,260 |
1,459 |
200 |
1,694 |
463 |
14,516 |
| Pneumococcal disease (invasive) | 20 |
547 |
60 |
326 |
120 |
39 |
355 |
162 |
1,629 |
| Poliomyelitis | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Rubella | 0 |
17 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
7 |
37 |
| Rubella – congenital | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Tetanus | 0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| Varicella zoster (chickenpox)|||| | 12 |
NN |
115 |
429 |
620 |
29 |
230 |
355 |
1,790 |
| Varicella zoster (shingles)|||| | 7 |
NN |
106 |
447 |
931 |
125 |
185 |
508 |
2,309 |
| Varicella zoster (unspecified)|||| | 102 |
NN |
2 |
3,138 |
223 |
46 |
162 |
754 |
4,427 |
Vectorborne diseases |
|||||||||
| Arbovirus infection (NEC)¶¶ | 0 |
1 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
28 |
| Barmah Forest virus infection | 7 |
533 |
76 |
1,242 |
37 |
1 |
32 |
174 |
2,102 |
| Dengue virus infection | 6 |
154 |
23 |
232 |
31 |
6 |
8 |
98 |
558 |
| Japanese encephalitis virus infection | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Kunjin virus infection*** | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Malaria | 15 |
116 |
20 |
167 |
17 |
8 |
105 |
85 |
533 |
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection*** | 0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Ross River virus infection | 21 |
1,152 |
261 |
2,838 |
197 |
77 |
231 |
874 |
5,651 |
Zoonoses |
|||||||||
| Anthrax | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Australia bat lyssavirus | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Brucellosis | 0 |
2 |
0 |
46 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
48 |
| Leptospirosis | 0 |
17 |
1 |
89 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
112 |
| Lyssavirus (NEC) | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Ornithosis | 0 |
41 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
53 |
6 |
103 |
| Q fever | 2 |
164 |
3 |
158 |
17 |
0 |
20 |
6 |
370 |
| Tularaemia | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Other bacterial diseases |
|||||||||
| Legionellosis | 4 |
89 |
1 |
31 |
21 |
1 |
54 |
70 |
271 |
| Leprosy | 0 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
| Meningococcal infection††† | 3 |
81 |
8 |
85 |
20 |
1 |
64 |
24 |
286 |
| Tuberculosis | 12 |
501 |
32 |
144 |
54 |
8 |
379 |
98 |
1,228 |
| Total | 2,446 |
39,186 |
7,034 |
43,983 |
12,393 |
3,601 |
31,355 |
20,510 |
160,508 |
* Due to delays in data quality checks, data for Northern Territory was preliminary at the time of analysis.
† Newly acquired hepatitis includes cases where the infection was determined to be acquired within 24 months prior to diagnosis.
‡ Unspecified hepatitis and syphilis includes cases where the duration of infection could not be determined.
§ In Queensland, includes incident hepatitis C 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 and Western Australia excludes ocular infections. Where data fields were complete, infections defined as non-sexually acquired (e.g. perinatal) in individuals aged less than 13 years, were excluded from the data.
†† Where data fields were complete, gonococcal infections defined as non-sexually acquired (e.g. perinatal) in individuals aged less than 13 years, were excluded from the data.
‡‡ Does not include congenital syphilis. §§ Influenza (laboratory confirmed) became notifiable in South Australia on 1 May 2008.
|||| Varicella zoster became notifiable in Victoria on 21 September 2008.
¶¶ Arbovirus (NEC) replaced Flavivirus (NEC) in 2008.
*** 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.
NEC Not elsewhere classified.
NN Not notifiable.
NDP No data provided.
Table 6: Notification rates of nationally notifiable communicable diseases, Australia, 2008, by state or territory. (Annualised rate per 100,000 population)
Disease |
State or territory | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | NSW | NT* | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA | Aust | |
Bloodborne diseases |
|||||||||
| Hepatitis (NEC) | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Hepatitis B (newly acquired)† | 0.3 |
0.7 |
3.6 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
2.4 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
| Hepatitis B (unspecified) | 19.4 |
36.6 |
89.6 |
19.6 |
26.0 |
11.7 |
34.5 |
29.1 |
30.8 |
| Hepatitis C (newly acquired)† | 1.4 |
0.3 |
2.7 |
NN |
4.1 |
4.8 |
2.9 |
4.7 |
2.2 |
| Hepatitis C (unspecified)‡,§ | 56.4 |
50.9 |
101.0 |
61.3 |
32.1 |
65.1 |
42.4 |
57.2 |
51.0 |
| Hepatitis D | 0.0 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
Gastrointestinal diseases |
|||||||||
| Botulism | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Campylobacteriosis|| | 110.3 |
NN |
116.9 |
112.3 |
124.2 |
95.5 |
108.8 |
84.2 |
107.5 |
| Cryptosporidiosis | 3.2 |
6.9 |
46.4 |
16.2 |
3.9 |
7.2 |
8.4 |
7.6 |
9.4 |
| Haemolytic uraemic syndrome | 0.0 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
| Hepatitis A | 1.4 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
1.6 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
| Hepatitis E | 0.0 |
0.2 |
1.4 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
| Listeriosis | 0.3 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
| Salmonellosis | 38.2 |
32.4 |
226.1 |
47.7 |
41.2 |
41.4 |
31.1 |
39.4 |
38.8 |
| Shigellosis | 0.9 |
1.6 |
79.6 |
2.3 |
8.5 |
0.8 |
2.5 |
7.8 |
3.9 |
| STEC,VTEC¶ | 0.0 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
0.9 |
2.4 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
| Typhoid | 0.0 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
Quarantinable diseases |
|||||||||
| Cholera | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
| Highly pathogenic avian influenza in humans | 0.0 |
0.0 |
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 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Rabies | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Severe acute respiratory syndrome | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
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 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Viral haemorrhagic fever | 0.0 |
0.0 |
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 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Sexually transmitted infections |
|||||||||
| Chlamydial infection** | 285.9 |
200.7 |
1044.5 |
353.9 |
227.8 |
297.7 |
229.8 |
397.9 |
272.9 |
| Donovanosis | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Gonococcal infection†† | 6.1 |
19.1 |
712.9 |
38.1 |
32.5 |
5.0 |
17.4 |
78.0 |
36.0 |
| Syphilis – all‡‡ | 10.4 |
20.2 |
115.1 |
9.1 |
3.2 |
4.4 |
14.9 |
13.4 |
15.1 |
| Syphilis < 2 years duration‡ | 1.2 |
6.0 |
37.8 |
4.4 |
3.2 |
1.4 |
7.0 |
8.3 |
6.1 |
| Syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration‡ | 9.3 |
14.2 |
77.3 |
4.7 |
NDP |
3.0 |
7.9 |
5.1 |
9.8 |
| Syphilis – congenital | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Vaccine preventable diseases |
|||||||||
| Diphtheria | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b | 0.0 |
0.1 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
| Influenza (laboratory confirmed)§§ | 70.6 |
26.0 |
90.5 |
86.2 |
29.5 |
78.0 |
24.5 |
46.8 |
42.6 |
| Measles | 0.0 |
0.6 |
1.4 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
| Mumps | 0.0 |
1.1 |
24.1 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
4.4 |
1.3 |
| Pertussis | 42.0 |
111.9 |
217.0 |
52.6 |
91.0 |
40.2 |
31.9 |
21.3 |
67.7 |
| Pneumococcal disease (invasive) | 5.8 |
7.8 |
27.3 |
7.6 |
7.5 |
7.8 |
6.7 |
7.5 |
7.6 |
| Poliomyelitis | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Rubella | 0.0 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
| Rubella – congenital | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Tetanus | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Varicella zoster (chickenpox)|||| | 3.5 |
NN |
52.3 |
10.0 |
38.7 |
5.8 |
NRC |
16.4 |
19.6 |
| Varicella zoster (shingles)|||| | 2.0 |
NN |
48.2 |
10.4 |
58.1 |
25.1 |
NRC |
23.4 |
25.3 |
| Varicella zoster (unspecified)|||| | 29.5 |
NN |
0.9 |
73.1 |
13.9 |
9.2 |
NRC |
34.7 |
48.5 |
Vectorborne diseases |
|||||||||
| Arbovirus infection (NEC)¶¶ | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
| Barmah Forest virus infection | 2.0 |
7.6 |
34.6 |
28.9 |
2.3 |
0.2 |
0.6 |
8.0 |
9.8 |
| Dengue virus infection | 1.7 |
2.2 |
10.5 |
5.4 |
1.9 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
4.5 |
2.6 |
| Japanese encephalitis virus infection | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
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 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Malaria | 4.3 |
1.7 |
9.1 |
3.9 |
1.1 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
3.9 |
2.5 |
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection*** | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Ross River virus infection | 6.1 |
16.5 |
118.7 |
66.1 |
12.3 |
15.5 |
4.3 |
40.3 |
26.4 |
Zoonoses |
|||||||||
| Anthrax | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Australia bat lyssavirus | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Brucellosis | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
| Leptospirosis | 0.0 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
2.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
| Lyssavirus (NEC) | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Ornithosis | 0.0 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
| Q fever | 0.6 |
2.3 |
1.4 |
3.7 |
1.1 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
1.7 |
| Tularaemia | 0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Other bacterial diseases |
|||||||||
| Legionellosis | 1.2 |
1.3 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
1.3 |
0.2 |
1.0 |
3.2 |
1.3 |
| Leprosy | 0.0 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Meningococcal infection††† | 0.9 |
1.2 |
3.6 |
2.0 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
| Tuberculosis | 3.5 |
7.2 |
14.6 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
1.6 |
7.1 |
4.5 |
5.7 |
* Due to delays in data quality checks, data for Northern Territory was preliminary at the time of analysis.
† Newly acquired hepatitis includes cases where the infection was determined to be acquired within 24 months prior to diagnosis.
‡ Unspecified hepatitis and syphilis includes cases where the duration of infection could not be determined.
§ In Queensland, includes incident hepatitis C 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 and Western Australia excludes ocular infections. Where data fields were complete, infections defined as non-sexually acquired (e.g. perinatal) in individuals aged less than 13 years, were excluded from the data.
†† Where data fields were complete, gonococcal infections defined as non-sexually acquired (e.g. perinatal) in individuals aged less than 13 years, were excluded from the data.
‡‡ Does not include congenital syphilis.
§§ Influenza (laboratory confirmed) became notifiable in South Australia on 1 May 2008.
|||| Varicella zoster became notifiable in Victoria on 21 September 2008.
¶¶ Arbovirus (NEC) replaced Flavivirus (NEC) in 2008.
*** 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.
NEC Not elsewhere classified.
NN Not notifiable.
NDP No data provided.
NRC No rate calculated – due to part year reporting. Varicella zoster became notifiable in Victoria on 21 September 2008.
Table 7: Notifications and notification rate per 100,000 population for communicable diseases, Australia, 2003 to 2008
Disease |
Number of notifications | 5 year mean | Ratio | Notification rate per 100,000 population | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |||
Bloodborne diseases |
||||||||||||||
| Hepatitis (NEC) | 0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0.4 |
2.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Hepatitis B (newly acquired)* | 347 |
283 |
251 |
291 |
294 |
245 |
293.2 |
0.8 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.1 |
| Hepatitis B (unspecified) | 5,803 |
5,781 |
6,291 |
6,254 |
6,887 |
6,600 |
6,203.2 |
1.1 |
29.2 |
28.7 |
30.8 |
30.2 |
32.7 |
30.8 |
| Hepatitis C (newly acquired)* | 514 |
456 |
373 |
436 |
385 |
381 |
432.8 |
0.9 |
3.2 |
2.8 |
2.3 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
| Hepatitis C (unspecified)†,‡ | 13,606 |
12,661 |
11,955 |
11,931 |
11,905 |
10,938 |
12,411.6 |
0.9 |
68.4 |
62.9 |
58.6 |
57.6 |
56.5 |
51.0 |
| Hepatitis D | 26 |
29 |
32 |
30 |
34 |
42 |
30.2 |
1.4 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
Gastrointestinal diseases |
||||||||||||||
| Botulism | 1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Campylobacteriosis§ | 15,360 |
15,589 |
16,497 |
15,423 |
16,996 |
15,535 |
15,973.0 |
1.0 |
116.2 |
116.2 |
121.0 |
111.1 |
120.0 |
107.5 |
| Cryptosporidiosis | 1,222 |
1,685 |
3,215 |
3,203 |
2,812 |
2,005 |
2,427.4 |
0.8 |
6.1 |
8.4 |
15.8 |
15.5 |
13.3 |
9.4 |
| Haemolytic uraemic syndrome | 15 |
16 |
20 |
14 |
19 |
31 |
16.8 |
1.8 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Hepatitis A | 431 |
319 |
327 |
281 |
165 |
276 |
304.6 |
0.9 |
2.2 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
0.8 |
1.3 |
| Hepatitis E | 12 |
28 |
30 |
24 |
18 |
44 |
22.4 |
2.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
| Listeriosis | 69 |
67 |
54 |
61 |
50 |
68 |
60.2 |
1.1 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
| Salmonellosis | 7,001 |
7,839 |
8,424 |
8,255 |
9,533 |
8,310 |
8,210.4 |
1.0 |
35.2 |
38.9 |
41.3 |
39.9 |
45.2 |
38.8 |
| Shigellosis | 442 |
520 |
729 |
546 |
602 |
828 |
567.8 |
1.5 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
3.6 |
2.6 |
2.9 |
3.9 |
| STEC,VTEC|| | 52 |
49 |
86 |
70 |
107 |
106 |
72.8 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
| Typhoid | 51 |
76 |
52 |
77 |
91 |
105 |
69.4 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
Quarantinable diseases |
||||||||||||||
| Cholera | 1 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3.2 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Highly pathogenic avian influenza in humans | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
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 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Rabies | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Severe acute respiratory syndrome | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
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 |
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 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Yellow fever | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Sexually transmissible infections |
||||||||||||||
| Chlamydial infection¶ | 30,419 |
36,212 |
41,346 |
47,458 |
52,022 |
58,484 |
41,491.4 |
1.4 |
152.9 |
179.9 |
202.7 |
229.3 |
246.9 |
272.9 |
| Donovanosis | 16 |
10 |
13 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
9.6 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Gonococcal infection** | 6,779 |
7,175 |
8,070 |
8,562 |
7,676 |
7,723 |
7,652.4 |
1.0 |
34.1 |
35.6 |
39.6 |
41.4 |
36.4 |
36.0 |
| Syphilis – all†† | 2,004 |
2,347 |
2,234 |
2,687 |
3,161 |
3,243 |
2,486.6 |
1.3 |
10.1 |
11.7 |
11.0 |
13.0 |
15.0 |
15.1 |
| Syphilis < 2 years duration† | NN |
634 |
650 |
878 |
1,422 |
1,303 |
716.8‡‡ |
1.8 |
NN |
3.1 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
6.7 |
6.1 |
| Syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration† | NN |
1,713 |
1,584 |
1,809 |
1,739 |
1,940 |
1,369.0‡‡ |
1.4 |
NN |
9.2 |
8.4 |
9.5 |
8.9 |
9.8 |
| Syphilis – congenital | 13 |
13 |
15 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
12.4 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Vaccine preventable diseases |
||||||||||||||
| Diphtheria | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b | 19 |
15 |
17 |
22 |
17 |
25 |
18.0 |
1.4 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Influenza (laboratory confirmed)§§ | 3,479 |
2,138 |
4,561 |
3,254 |
10,449 |
9,137 |
4,776.2 |
1.9 |
17.5 |
10.6 |
22.4 |
15.7 |
49.6 |
42.6 |
| Measles | 93 |
45 |
10 |
125 |
12 |
65 |
57.0 |
1.1 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
| Mumps | 77 |
102 |
240 |
275 |
586 |
286 |
256.0 |
1.1 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
2.8 |
1.3 |
| Pertussis | 5,096 |
8,750 |
11,200 |
10,995 |
5,345 |
14,516 |
8,277.2 |
1.8 |
25.6 |
43.5 |
54.9 |
53.1 |
25.4 |
67.7 |
| Pneumococcal disease (invasive) | 2,226 |
2,373 |
1,706 |
1,463 |
1,483 |
1,629 |
1,850.2 |
0.9 |
11.2 |
11.8 |
8.4 |
7.1 |
7.0 |
7.6 |
| Poliomyelitis | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Rubella | 55 |
31 |
31 |
59 |
34 |
37 |
42.0 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
| Rubella – congenital | 3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Tetanus | 4 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3.4 |
1.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Varicella zoster (chickenpox)|||| | NN |
NN |
NN |
1,558 |
1,667 |
1,790 |
1,080.3¶¶ |
1.7 |
NN |
NN |
NN |
17.8 |
18.6 |
19.6 |
| Varicella zoster (shingles)|||| | NN |
NN |
NN |
1,092 |
1,561 |
2,309 |
886.7¶¶ |
2.6 |
NN |
NN |
NN |
12.5 |
17.4 |
25.3 |
| Varicella zoster (unspecified)|||| | NN |
NN |
NN |
3,677 |
4,286 |
4,427 |
2,701.3¶¶ |
1.6 |
NN |
NN |
NN |
42.0 |
47.9 |
48.5 |
Vectorborne diseases |
||||||||||||||
| Arbovirus infection (NEC)*** | 58 |
60 |
28 |
32 |
22 |
28 |
40.0 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Barmah Forest virus infection | 1,367 |
1,103 |
1,323 |
2,140 |
1,716 |
2,102 |
1,529.8 |
1.4 |
6.9 |
5.5 |
6.5 |
10.3 |
8.1 |
9.8 |
| Dengue virus infection | 861 |
351 |
220 |
187 |
314 |
558 |
386.6 |
1.4 |
4.3 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
| Japanese encephalitis virus infection | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.4 |
2.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Kunjin virus infection††† | 9 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
4.0 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Malaria | 585 |
547 |
817 |
770 |
568 |
533 |
657.4 |
0.8 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection††† | 0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0.8 |
2.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Ross River virus infection | 3,844 |
4,209 |
2,540 |
5,545 |
4,207 |
5,651 |
4,069.0 |
1.4 |
19.3 |
20.9 |
12.5 |
26.8 |
20.0 |
26.4 |
Zoonoses |
||||||||||||||
| Anthrax | 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Brucellosis | 20 |
38 |
41 |
51 |
38 |
48 |
37.6 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
| Leptospirosis | 127 |
177 |
129 |
145 |
108 |
112 |
137.2 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
| Ornithosis | 200 |
239 |
164 |
165 |
93 |
103 |
172.2 |
0.6 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
| Q fever | 560 |
463 |
351 |
408 |
445 |
370 |
445.4 |
0.8 |
2.8 |
2.3 |
1.7 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
1.7 |
Other bacterial infections |
||||||||||||||
| Legionellosis | 333 |
312 |
331 |
349 |
306 |
271 |
326.2 |
0.8 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
| Leprosy | 7 |
6 |
10 |
7 |
13 |
11 |
8.6 |
1.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Meningococcal infection‡‡‡ | 558 |
405 |
391 |
318 |
306 |
286 |
395.6 |
0.7 |
2.8 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
| Tuberculosis | 986 |
1,052 |
1,083 |
1,208 |
1,174 |
1,228 |
1,100.6 |
1.1 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
5.3 |
5.8 |
5.6 |
5.7 |
| Total | 102,748 |
113,593 |
125,384 |
139,481 |
147,530 |
160,508 |
125,747.2 |
|||||||
* Newly acquired hepatitis includes cases in whom the infection was determined to be acquired within 24 months prior to diagnosis.
† Unspecified hepatitis and syphilis includes cases in whom the duration of infection could not be determined.
‡ Data provided from Queensland (2003–2008) and the Northern Territory (2003–2004) includes both newly-acquired and unspecified hepatitis C notifications.
§ 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 and Western Australia excludes ocular infections. Where data fields were complete, infections defined as non-sexually acquired (e.g. perinatal) in individuals aged less than 13 years, were excluded from the data.
** Where data fields were complete, infections defined as non-sexually acquired (e.g. perinatal) in individuals aged less than 13 years, were excluded from the data.
†† Does not include congenital syphilis.
‡‡ Ratios for Syphilis < 2 years; syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration are based on 4 years data.
§§ Influenza (laboratory confirmed) became notifiable in South Australia on 1 May 2008.
|||| Nationally notifiable in 2006 and first full year of national reporting from 2007. Varicella zoster became notifiable in Victoria on 21 September 2008.
¶¶ Ratios for varicella zoster (chickenpox); varicella zoster (shingles); and varicella zoster (unspecified) are based on 2 years data.
*** Arbovirus (NEC) replaced Flavivirus (NEC) in 2008.
††† 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.
NEC Not elsewhere classified.
NN Not notifiable.
The year in which diseases became notifiable to NNDSS in each jurisdiction is shown in Table 8.
Table 8: Earliest notification year for which NNDSS contains disease data, Australia, by state or territory*
Disease |
Year in which data first sent to Commonwealth | Period of national reporting | Exceptions to national reporting |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | NSW | NT | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA | |||
Bloodborne diseases |
||||||||||
| Hepatitis (NEC) | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
NN |
1991 to present |
WA do not report |
| Hepatitis B (newly acquired) | 1995 |
1993 |
1993 |
1994 |
1993 |
1993 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 to present |
|
| Hepatitis B (unspecified) | 1991 |
1991 |
2004 |
1994 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Hepatitis C (newly acquired) | 1995 |
1993 |
2005 |
NN |
1993 |
1995 |
1997 |
1995 |
1993 to present |
All jurisdictions except Qld |
| Hepatitis C (unspecified) | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1994 |
1991 |
1991 |
1993 |
1995 to present |
Includes reports of incident hepatitis C, 1991 to 1994 |
| Hepatitis D | 1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1997 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
2001 |
1999 to present |
WA did not report 1999–2000 |
Gastrointestinal diseases |
||||||||||
| Botulism | 1992 |
1998 |
1998 |
1997 |
1993 |
1992 |
1992 |
2001 |
1992 to present |
State reporting started as shown |
| Campylobacteriosis | 1991 |
NN |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
NSW do not report |
| Cryptosporidiosis | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
1996 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
|
| Haemolytic uraemic syndrome | 1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1997 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 to present |
|
| Hepatitis A | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Hepatitis E | 1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
2001 |
1999 to present |
WA did not report 1999–2000 |
| Listeriosis | 1991 |
1991 |
1994 |
1991 |
1992 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
SA did not report 1991 NT did not report 1991–1993 |
| Salmonellosis | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Shigellosis | 1991 |
2001 |
1991 |
1997 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
NSW did not report 1991–2000 Qld did not report 1991–1996 |
| STEC, VTEC | 1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
2002 |
1999 |
1999 |
1999 |
2001 |
1999 to present |
Qld did not report 1991–2001 WA did not report 1999–2000 |
| Typhoid† | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
Quarantinable diseases |
||||||||||
| Cholera | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Highly pathogenic avian influenza in humans | 2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 to present |
|
| Plague | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Rabies | 1993 |
1997 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Severe acute respiratory syndrome | 2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 to present |
|
| Smallpox | 2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 to present |
|
| Viral haemorrhagic fever | 1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Yellow fever | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
Sexually transmissible infections |
||||||||||
| Chlamydial infection (NEC) | 1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1993 |
1994 to present |
NSW did not report 1994–1998 |
| Donovanosis | 1991 |
2002 |
1991 |
1991 |
2002 |
1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
NSW and SA did not report 1991–2001 Tasmania did not report 1991–1992 |
| Gonococcal infection‡ | 1991 |
1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Syphilis – all§ | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Syphilis < 2 years | 2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 to present |
|
| Syphilis > 2 years or unspecified duration | 2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 to present |
|
| Syphilis – congenital | 2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 to present |
|
Vaccine preventable diseases |
||||||||||
| Diphtheria | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Haemophilus influenzae type b | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1994 |
1991 to present |
WA did not report 1991–1993 |
| Influenza (laboratory confirmed) | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
|
| Measles | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Mumps | 1992 |
1992 |
1995 |
1997 |
1994 |
1995 |
1992 |
1994 |
1995 to present |
Qld did not report (1992–1996 and 2000) |
| Pertussis | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Pneumococcal disease (invasive) | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
1997 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
|
| Poliomyelitis | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Rubella|| | 1991 |
1991 |
1993 |
1991 |
1993 |
1995 |
1992 |
1994 |
1993 to present |
Tasmania did not report 1993–1994 |
| Rubella – congenital | 2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
1997 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 |
2003 to present |
|
| Tetanus | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1997 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
Qld did not report 1991–1996 |
| Varicella zoster (chickenpox) | 2006 |
NN |
2006 |
2006 |
2006 |
2006 |
2008 |
2006 |
2006 to present |
All jurisdictions except NSW Reported by Victoria in September 2008 |
| Varicella zoster (shingles) | 2006 |
NN |
2006 |
2006 |
2006 |
2006 |
2008 |
2006 |
2006 to present |
All jurisdictions except NSW Reported by Victoria in September 2008 |
| Varicella zoster (unspecified) | 2006 |
NN |
2006 |
2006 |
2006 |
2006 |
2008 |
2006 |
2006 to present |
All jurisdictions except NSW Reported by Victoria in September 2008 |
Vectorborne diseases |
||||||||||
| Barmah Forest virus infection | 1995 |
1995 |
1997 |
1995 |
1995 |
1995 |
1995 |
1995 |
1995 to present |
|
| Dengue virus infection | 1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1995 |
1991 to present |
ACT did not report 1991–1992 |
| Arbovirus infection (NEC)¶,** | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
Includes JEV, MVEV and Kunjin 1991–2000 |
| Japanese encephalitis virus infection | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
|
| Kunjin virus | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
Reported under MVEV in ACT |
| Malaria | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
Combined with Kunjin in ACT |
| Ross River virus infection | 1993 |
1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1993 |
1993 |
1991 |
1991 |
1993 to present |
|
Zoonoses |
||||||||||
| Anthrax | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
1991 |
2002 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
|
| Australian bat lyssavirus | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
1998 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
|
| Brucellosis | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Leptospirosis | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Lyssavirus (NEC) | 2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
1998 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 |
2001 to present |
|
| Ornithosis | 1991 |
2001 |
1991 |
1992 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
NSW did not report 1991–2000 Qld did not report 1997–2001 |
| Q fever | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Tularaemia | 2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 |
2004 to present |
|
Other bacterial infections |
||||||||||
| Legionellosis | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Leprosy | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Meningococcal infection | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
| Tuberculosis | 1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 |
1991 to present |
|
* Data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System annual reports from 1991. First full year of reporting to the Department of health and Ageing is shown. Some diseases may have been notifiable to state or territory health departments before the dates shown here.
† 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.
¶ Before 1997, includes Ross River virus infection, dengue virus infection and Barmah Forest virus infection.
** Flavivirus (NEC) replaced arbovirus (NEC) 1 January 2004. Arbovirus (NEC) replaced Flavivirus (NEC) in 2008.
NN Not Notifiable
The major changes in communicable disease notifications in 2008 are shown in Figure 3 as the ratio of notifications in 2008 to the mean number of notifications for the previous 5 years, or in the case of infectious syphilis < 2 year duration, 4 years. Notifications of Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection, Haemophilus influenzae type b, haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), shigellosis and pertussis were highest since 2003 and surpassed the expected range (5-year mean plus 2 standard deviations). Notifications of mumps, chlamydial infection, syphilis < 2 years duration, measles, tuberculosis, donovanosis and Shiga toxin/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC) were within the historical range.
Figure 3: Comparison of total notifications of selected diseases reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in 2008, with the previous 5-year mean
* Exceeded 2 standard deviations above the 5 year mean.
† Syphilis < 2 years duration based on a 4-year mean.
Data completeness
The case's sex was complete for 99.8% of notifications and age at onset for close to 100% of notifications (Table 9). In 2008, indigenous status was complete for 49.9% of notifications, and varied by jurisdiction. Indigenous status was complete for 92.5% of data reported in the Northern Territory, 85.0% in South Australia and 77.7% in Western Australia. In the remaining jurisdictions, less than 57% of data were complete for indigenous status.
Table 9: Completeness of National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System data received, Australia, 2008, by state or territory*
| State or territory | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | NSW | NT† | Qld | SA | Tas | Vic | WA | Aust | |
| Total notifications | 2,446 |
39,186 |
7,034 |
43,983 |
12,393 |
3,601 |
31,355 |
20,510 |
160,508 |
Sex |
|||||||||
| Unknown/ missing | 2 |
121 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
193 |
1 |
326 |
| Per cent complete | 99.9 |
99.7 |
99.9 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
99.4 |
100.0 |
99.8 |
Age at onset |
|||||||||
| Unknown/ missing | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
47 |
0 |
48 |
| Per cent complete | 100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
99.9 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Indigenous status |
|||||||||
| Unknown/ missing | 2,162 |
29,290 |
531 |
25,841 |
1,854 |
1,572 |
14,592 |
4,565 |
80,407 |
| Per cent complete | 11.6 |
25.3 |
92.5 |
41.2 |
85.0 |
56.3 |
53.5 |
77.7 |
49.9 |
* Indigenous status is usually obtained from medical notification and completeness varies by disease and by state and territory. This reflects differences in notification requirements (i.e. depending on the jurisdiction, some diseases are primarily or completely notified by pathology laboratories rather than clinicians) and the fact that it is not possible to follow-up all cases for diseases with a large volume of notifications and/or not requiring specific case-based public health action.
† Due to delays in data quality checks, data for the Northern Territory were preliminary at the time of analysis.
Data completeness on indigenous status also varied by disease as summarised in Appendix 3. There were 5 diseases for which notifications were 100% complete for indigenous status.10 A further 5 diseases equalled or exceeded 90% completeness for indigenous status. Of the 18 priority diseases agreed to by CDNA and the NSC in 2008 for improving Indigenous identification, seven had an indigenous completeness that exceeded 90% (donovanosis, leprosy, measles, tuberculosis, meningococcal infection, Haemophilus influenzae type b, syphilis < 2 years duration). The diseases for which there was less than 90% Indigenous completeness included hepatitis A, pneumococcal disease (invasive), shigellosis, gonococcal infection, and locally-acquired dengue virus infection. HIV, which is one of the priority diseases, is not reported to the NNDSS. In 2008, CDNA set target thresholds of 95% completeness for key diseases and 80% completeness for the remainder of the notifiable diseases.
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Communicable Diseases Surveillance
This issue - Vol 34 No 3, September 2010
NNDSS Annual report 2008
Communicable Diseases Intelligence