Australia's notifiable diseases status, 2006: Annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System - Results: Tables 4a and 4b

The Australia’s notifiable diseases status, 2006 report provides data and an analysis of communicable disease incidence in Australia during 2006. The full report is available in 17 HTML documents. The full report is also available in PDF format from the Table of contents page.

Page last updated: 30 June 2008

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

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

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

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


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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