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Rise in invasive serogroup W meningococcal disease in Australia 2013-2015.
This report describes that epidemiology. Since 2013, the incidence and proportion of MenW has increased in Australia, rising from an average of 2% of all IMD cases annually (range 0% to 5%) between 1991 and 2012; to 8% (12/149) of cases in 2013, 10% (17/169) in 2014, and 19% (34/182) in 2015. Victoria has been the main affected state, with 50% (17/34) of national cases in 2015. MenW has affected older populations, with a median age between 2003 and 2015 being 44 years. During this period, case fatality was 10.7% (17/159), 2.3 times higher than for all IMD serogroups combined (4.7%, 173/3720). There were 7 deaths due to Men...
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Epidemiology of bacterial toxin-mediated foodborne gastroenteritis outbreaks in Australia, 2001 to 2013.
Authors: May FJ, Polkinghorne BG, Fearnley EJ Abstract Bacterial toxin-mediated foodborne outbreaks, such as those caused by Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, are an important and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Due to the short incubation period and duration of illness, these outbreaks are often under-reported. This is the first study to describe the epidemiology of bacterial toxin-mediated outbreaks in Australia. Using data collected between 2001 and 2013, we identify high risk groups and risk factors to inform prevention measures. Descriptive analyses of c...
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Adverse events following immunisation with bacille Calmette-Gu érin vaccination: baseline data to inform monitoring in Australia following introduction of new unregistered BCG vaccine.
This study provides baseline data on BCG vaccine safety to inform surveillance. Given the current use of unregistered vaccines in the context of vaccine supply issues, improved recording of both administered BCG vaccine doses and the reporting of BCG vaccine-related AEFI are required to facilitate close monitoring of vaccine safety. PMID: 28043221 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Public health action following an outbreak of toxigenic cutaneous diphtheria in an Auckland refugee resettlement centre.
Authors: Reynolds GE, Saunders H, Matson A, O'Kane F, Roberts SA, Singh SK, Voss LM, Kiedrzynski T Abstract Global forced displacement has climbed to unprecedented levels due largely to regional conflict. Degraded public health services leave displaced people vulnerable to multiple environmental and infectious hazards including vaccine preventable disease. While diphtheria is rarely notified in New Zealand, a 2 person outbreak of cutaneous diphtheria occurred in refugees from Afghanistan in February 2015 at the refugee resettlement centre in Auckland. Both cases had uncertain immunisation status. The index...
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Australian vaccine preventable disease epidemiological review series: Influenza 2006 to 2015.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on notifications, hospitalisations and deaths, burden of disease from influenza is highest at the extremes of life and is significantly higher among Indigenous people of all ages. This pattern of disease burden warrants consideration of widened eligibility for influenza vaccine under the National Immunisation Program to all Indigenous people and all children less than 5 years of age. PMID: 28043223 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Haycocknema perplexum: an emerging cause of parasitic myositis in Australia.
Authors: Vos LJ, Robertson T, Binotto E Abstract Haycocknema perplexum is a rare cause of parasitic myositis, with all cases of human infection reported from Australia. This case involved an 80-year-old Queensland wildlife carer, who presented with muscle weakness, mild eosinophilia and creatine kinase elevation. This case supports an association with native animal contact and highlights the debilitating nature of this infection. PMID: 28043224 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Australian Meningococcal Surveillance Programme annual report, 2015.
Authors: Lahra MM, Enriquez RP, National Neisseria Network Abstract In 2015, there were 174 laboratory-confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease analysed by the Australian National Neisseria Network. This number was higher than that reported in 2013 and 2014, which were the lowest and second-lowest totals reported, respectively, since inception of the Australian Meningococcal Surveillance Programme in 1994. Probable and laboratory confirmed invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is notifiable in Australia. There were 182 IMD cases notified to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System in 20...
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Flutracking weekly online community survey of influenza-like illness annual report, 2015.
This article reports on the 2015 findings from Flutracking. From 2014 to 2015 there was a 38.5% increase in participants to 27,824 completing at least 1 survey with a peak weekly response of 25,071 participants. The 2015 Flutracking national ILI weekly fever and cough percentages peaked in late August at 5.0% in the unvaccinated group, in the same week as the national counts of laboratory confirmed influenza peaked. A similar percentage of Flutracking participants took two or more days off from work or normal duties in 2015 (peak level 2.3%) compared with 2014 (peak level 2.5%) and the peak weekly percentage of participant...
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2015: the Influenza Complications Alert Network.
This report summarises the epidemiology of hospitalisations with laboratory-confirmed influenza during the 2015 influenza season. In this observational study, cases were defined as patients admitted to one of the sentinel hospitals with an acute respiratory illness with influenza confirmed by nucleic acid detection. During the period 1 April to 30 October 2015 (the 2015 influenza season), 2,070 patients were admitted with confirmed influenza to one of 17 FluCAN sentinel hospitals. Of these, 46% were elderly (≥ 65 years), 15% were children (< 16 years), 5% were Indigenous Australians, 2.1% were pregnant and 75% had ch...
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Australian Rotavirus Surveillance Program annual report, 2015.
This report highlights the continued predominance of G12P[8] strains as the major cause of disease in this population. Genotype distribution was distinct between jurisdictions using RotaTeq and Rotarix vaccines. Genotype G12P[8] was more common in states using RotaTeq, while equine-like G3P[8] and G2P[4] were more common in the states and territories using Rotarix. This survey highlights the dynamic change in rotavirus genotypes observed since vaccine introduction, including the emergence of a novel equine-like G3P[8] as a major strain. The prolonged dominance of G12P[8] for a 4th consecutive year further illustrates the u...
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

OzFoodNet quarterly report, 1 July to 30  September 2014.
OzFoodNet quarterly report, 1 July to 30 September 2014. Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2016 Dec 24;40(4):E539-E544 Authors: OzFoodNet Working Group PMID: 28043229 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, 1 July to 30 September 2016.
Authors: PMID: 28043230 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Australian childhood immunisation coverage, 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 cohort, assessed as at 30 June 2016.
Authors: Hendry AJ PMID: 28043231 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme, 1 January to 31 March 2016.
Authors: Lahra MM, Enriquez RP PMID: 28043232 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research

Australian Gonococcal Surveillance Programme, 1 April to 30 June 2016.
Authors: Lahra MM, Enriquez RP PMID: 28043233 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report)
Source: Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report - January 4, 2017 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Commun Dis Intell Q Rep Source Type: research