PDF file - Department of Health and Ageing

National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, 2004
Annual report
Cholera
Case defi nition – Cholera
Only confirmed cases are reported.
Confirmed case: Requires isolation of
toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139.
In 2004, there were fi ve cases of cholera notifi ed in
Australia, two from Victoria, and one each from New
South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
Four of these cases acquired their disease overseas:
one in Indonesia, one in the Philippines, and
two in India. The place of acquisition of the fi fth case
was unknown.
All fi ve notifi cations were Vibrio cholerae serogroup
O1. There were two El Tor biotype notifi cations and
two Ogawa serotypes reported. Table 11 summarises
the serogroups, biotypes, serotypes and toxin
producing status of these notifi cations.
In 2004, there were several suspected cases of
SARS reported by jurisdictions. Enhanced surveillance
by general practitioners and hospitals in
Australia resulted in the testing of fi ve people with
fever, respiratory symptoms and history of travel to
China. All tests for SARS were negative.
Cholera, plague, rabies, yellow fever, SARS, HPAIH
and viral haemorrhagic fevers are of international
public health importance and are notified to the World
Health Organization. Although no local transmission
had been reported in Australia, these diseases
continue to occur around the world. Travellers are
advised to seek information on the risk of contracting
these diseases in their destinations and take appropriate
measures. More information on quarantinable
diseases and travel health can be found on the
Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing Website at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/
wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strategquaranti-index.htm
Sexually transmissible infections
In 2004, sexually transmissible infections (STIs)
reported to NNDSS were chlamydial infection, donovanosis,
gonococcal infections and for the first time
two categories of syphilis: syphilis – infectious (primary,
secondary and early latent) less than 2 years
duration and syphilis – of greater than 2 years or
unknown duration. The NNDSS also received reports
on congenital syphilis. These conditions were notifiable
in all states and territories.
Other national surveillance systems that monitor
STI in Australia include the Australian Gonococcal
Surveillance Programme, which is a network of specialist
laboratories, and the National Centre in HIV
Epidemiology and Clinical Research.
The national trends in the number and rates of STI
notifi cations reported to the NNDSS between 2000
and 2004 are shown in Table 4. In interpreting these
data it is important to note that changes in notifi cations
over time may not solely refl ect changes in
disease prevalence. Increases in screening rates,
more targeted screening, the use of more sensitive
diagnostic tests, as well as periodic public awareness
campaigns may contribute to changes in the
number of notifi cations over time.
Age adjusted notifi cation rates were calculated for
Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations for jurisdictions
that had Indigenous status data completed
in more than 50 per cent of notifi cations. These data
however, have to be interpreted cautiously as STI
screening occurs predominantly in specifi c high-risk
groups including Indigenous populations. Similarly,
rates between males and females need to be interpreted
cautiously as rates of testing for STI differ
between the sexes.
Table 11. Cholera notifications 2004, Australia, by notifying jurisdiction and case details
Notifying
jurisdiction
Sex
Age at
onset
Vibrio cholerae serogroup/biotype/
serotype
Toxin production
Country of
acquisition
NSW Male 45 Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Unknown Philippines
Qld Female 50 Vibrio cholerae O1 Unknown Unknown
Vic Female 23 Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa Not reported India
Vic Female 34 Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Ogawa Not reported India
WA Male 33 Vibrio cholerae O1 Unknown Indonesia
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