Notifiable Diseases

Severe disease invasive Group A Strep now a “notifiable” disease

Invasive group A streptococcal infection (iGAS) became a “notifiable” disease on 1st October 2024 – enhancing the health system’s ability to monitor this severe illness and develop more effective interventions in the future.

Cabinet approved adding invasive group A streptococcal infection (iGAS) to the list of notifiable infectious diseases under the Health Act 1956 – on 5th August 2024.

Making a disease notifiable means health practitioners and laboratories are required to inform a Medical Officer of Health of a confirmed or suspected case. It can help health authorities detect and respond to a sharp increase in disease and generate longer-term insights to inform more effective health interventions.

iGAS is a severe illness that almost always results in hospitalisation and can be fatal. Voluntary laboratory reporting to ESR suggests that iGAS case numbers were lower during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more recently have been trending upwards in many countries, including New Zealand.