December 2015 PUBLIC HEALTH BULLETIN Communicable diseases ...

December 2015

PUBLIC HEALTH BULLETIN

Communicable diseases notified December 2015

Disease name Dec Dec YTD Disease name Dec Dec YTD
2014 2015 2014 2015
Campylobacteriosis 599 Mumps 0
Chikungunya Fever 87 64 1 Murine Typhus 0 0 1
Cryptosporidiosis 0 0 Paratyphoid fever 0 0 6
Dengue fever 0 2 116 Pertussis 0 0 92
Giardiasis 1 2 8 Poliomyelitis 2 14 0
Haemophilus Influenza B 6 9 Q fever 0 0 0
Hepatitis A 0 0 113 Rheumatic fever - initial attack 0 0 9
Hepatitis B 1 0 0 Rheumatic fever – recurrent attack 0 0 0
Hepatitis C 0 0 0 Ross River virus infection 0 0 1
Invasive pneumococcal disease 0 0 3 Salmonellosis 0 0 63
Lead absorption 4 6 0 Shigellosis 4 2 6
Legionellosis 2 2 40 Tetanus 0 0 0
Leptospirosis 1 7 9 Toxic Shellfish Poisoning 0 0 0
Listeriosis 2 1 19 Tuberculosis disease - new case 0 0 27
Listeriosis – Perinatal 0 0 12 Typhoid fever 3 5 1
Malaria 0 0 0 VTEC/STEC infection 0 0 52
Measles 0 0 1 Yersiniosis 0 1 48
Meningococcal disease 0 0 0 Zika virus 4 2 0
0 0 2 0 0
4

Notifiable diseases (selected), December 2015 compared to December 2014, Waikato DHB.

2015-2016 Influenza Season Northern Hemisphere • Wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly
after working with soil products, mulches
Flu activity is increasing in the US, as would be compost or potting mix
expected at this time of year. There already have
been 4 deaths in children from influenza. A recent A booklet on Safer and Healthier gardening is
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) available on the HealthEd website:
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report provides an https://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/safer-and-
update regarding the 2015-2016 flu activity. Overall, healthier-gardening
the viruses identified to be circulating in communities
appear to be well matched with the strains included in B4 School Checks and 4yr old vaccinations
this season's trivalent and quadrivalent influenza
vaccines. The Ministry of Health recognises that timeliness and
high vaccine coverage are essential for the
Legionnaires’ disease: Infectious potting mix a effectiveness of vaccination programmes. There has
risk for gardener’s, landscapers and farmers been a focus on coverage at ages 8 months and 2
years and now also at 5 years of age. It has been
The Public Health Unit of Waikato DHB has seen a noted that some children receive their B4 School
rise in notifications of legionella cases this year; check but not their 4 years old vaccinations. It is
currently 19 cases compared to just two for the same recommended that parents are made aware that the
period in 2014. Investigation of these cases has vaccinations can be given in conjunction with the
found that the majority are linked to gardening and the check. For efficiency it is suggested that vaccinations
use of potting mix and compost. Thirteen cases have are given prior to the check so the 20 minute post
required hospitalisation. The nationwide LegiNZ vaccination time is concurrent with the B4School
study on legionella has led to increased testing for check.
this disease, which will have contributed to this
increase in notifications. Zika virus and risks to pregnant women

One strain of the bacteria which causes Legionellosis Zika virus is a flavivirus, closely related to dengue.
is a particular risk to home gardeners and farmers as Outbreaks of zika virus have previously been reported
it naturally occurs in soils, compost, and potting mix. in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia and more recently in
This is the time of year when we head out into the the Pacific Islands. Beginning in 2014 zika virus
garden and therefore are at increased risk of outbreaks have occurred throughout the tropical and
Legionella from working with or handling these sub-tropical areas of the western hemisphere, as far
products. north as Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Legionellosis can range in severity from a mild flu-like Zika virus infection is symptomatic in only about one
illness to a more severe respiratory condition. out of every five cases. When symptomatic, zika
Common early symptoms include loss of appetite, infection usually presents as an influenza-like
muscle aches and pains, headache, abdominal pains syndrome. Common symptoms include low grade
and diarrhoea, with fever/chills, a dry cough and fever, arthralgia, myalgia, headache, conjunctivitis,
shortness of breath developing as the disease cutaneous maculopapular rash, post-infection
progresses. The disease is more common in middle- asthenia
aged and older people, smokers, and people who
have poor immunity or have a chronic illness. Young, The infection is usually mild and, other than
fit and healthy people are less commonly affected. notification, no particular action is required. Acute
The disease isn’t spread from person to person. symptoms typically resolve within 4-7 days.
. However, as Zika infection may cause a rash that
To reduce the risk of exposure to Legionella could be confused with more serious diseases such
bacterium the following steps can be taken: as measles or dengue, these more serious diseases
do need to be ruled out. The incubation period is
• Read the warning on bags of compost or typically 3–12 days.
potting mix
There are concerns that pregnant women who
• Wear a dust mask when opening bags or become infected with zika virus can transmit the
using compost or potting mix to avoid disease to their unborn babies, with potentially
inhaling dust serious consequences. Reports from several
countries, most notably Brazil, demonstrate an
• Open bags of soil products, mulches increase in severe foetal birth defects and poor
compost or potting mix in a well ventilated pregnancy outcomes in babies whose mothers were
area and away from the face infected with zika virus while pregnant. Additional

• Dampen potting mix before use
• Water your garden and indoor plants

using a gentle spray

international research is necessary and ongoing to
determine the link between zika virus and foetal
damage. Until more is known, the Ministry of Health
recommends that women who are pregnant or plan to
become pregnant in the near term consider delaying
travel to areas with zika virus present. If travelling in
zika infected areas, women who are pregnant or plan
to become pregnant should consult with their
healthcare provider and take all precautions to avoid
mosquito bites.

Outbreaks in the Pacific region (Source: Ministry of
Health. As of 18 January 2015)

Current outbreaks include:
§ Chikungunya fever in Tuvalu and Marshall
Islands.
§ Dengue fever in American Samoa (Denv-3),
Papua New Guinea (Denv-2), Fiji (Denv-
2), French Polynesia (Denv-1), Solomon
Islands (Denv-3) and Samoa (Denv-3).
§ Zika virus in Samoa.
§ Diarrhoeal illness in Solomon Islands.

Source: Ministry of Health

Felicity Dumble -- Richard Wall:
Medical officers of health

After hours:
MOoH 021 359 650 HPO 021999521
If there is no answer, please contact Waikato Hospital’s
switchboard 07 839 8899 and ask for the on-call MOoH.

During office hours:
Population Health (MOoH or HPO) (07) 838 2569
Notifications 07 838 2569 ext. 22065 or 22020
Notifications outside Hamilton: 0800 800 977

Fax: 07 838 2382
Email: [email protected]