Notifiable Diseases
The Health Act 1956 requires certain diseases to be notified to the local Medical Officer of Health. A list of the Notifiable Diseases includes:
- Common enterics (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Yersinia)
- Serious enteric (Typhoid, Shigella, Cholera, Paratyphoid, Listeriosis, Hepatitis A)
- Vaccine preventable (Measles, Mumps, Pertussis (whooping cough), Rubella)
- Other Serious (Meningococcal, Legionella, Mosquito borne, Avian Influenza, Hepatitis B and C)
Up to date information on current notified disease statistics can be found in the Surveillance Reports which are regularly updated. In addition the Public Health Information Quarterly (PHIQ) which is designed for General Practitioners is also available.
Our response to these notifiable diseases varies depending on their seriousness. For the common enterics these are usually followed up by a postal questionnaire. The serious enteric and other serious diseases require more extensive follow-up that may include a visit to the hospital and/or an interview in person. There may also be preventative medication offered to contacts and/or clearance specimens required to ensure a person no longer has the disease and sampling to determine sources depending on the disease.
Common Infectious Diseases
Pamphlets of the most common infectious diseases can be downloaded and ordered online from the Community Health Information Centre. These pamphlets provide an overview of the early signs to look for, how long after exposure before signs or symptoms develop, how long the person affected is infectious for and special measures than should be taken to prevent further spread of the disease. Available pamphlets cover:
- Common childhood diseases (e.g. Ringworm, Scabies, Hand Foot and Mouth, Slapped Cheek)
- Vaccine Preventable (e.g. Measles, Chicken Pox)
- Enteric Diseases (e.g. Norovirus, Rotavirus, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella)
Documents
Downloads - hard copies available from the Community Health Information Centre
 Hand Foot and Mouth
Slapped Cheek
Rotavirus
Salmonella
Campylobacter
Links
Ministry of Health
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
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Measles Outbreak in Canterbury 2009
In June 2009, the Communicable Diseases staff at Community and Public Health began dealing with a Measles outbreak in Canterbury. Their response has recently been documented in the NZ Public Health Surveillance Report (December 2009).
Read the article online.
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