21st September to 27th September 2008

This week, the steady increase in respiratory diseases has continued, especially in influenza and pertussis.  Most other diseases were reported at seasonally expected levels during the week. 

GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESSES

Viral diarrhoea
No outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis were reported in the week. 

Campylobacter
Thirty-two cases of Campylobacter infection were notified this week, compared with 25 cases last week. Notification reported infection in 18 males and 14 females with ages ranging from 1 to 86 years; six cases were <10 years of age. Cases resided in a range of metropolitan and rural locations across South Australia.  Tips for preventing food poisoning can be found on this web site.

Cryptosporidiosis
One case of cryptosporidiosis was reported in a one year-old female from metropolitan Adelaide.

Salmonellosis
Seventeen cases of Salmonella infection were reported this week, compared to ten last week. Notification recorded infection in seven males and 10 females with ages ranging from <1 to 80 years, and a mean age of 34 years. Four cases were less than 10 years of age. Cases resided predominantly in metropolitan locations.  

Shigellosis
Two report of shigellosis were received in the week for a 27 year old female and a 66 year-old male from different locations in metropolitan Adelaide.  As medical notification occurs, cases are referred to local government Environmental Health Officers for information and advice.

Suspected food poisoning
One case of suspected food poisoning was reported in a 45 year-old female from metropolitan Adelaide. No others who consumed the same food were reported ill.

Yersiniosis
One case of yersiniosis was reported in an infant male aged <1 year from metropolitan Adelaide.

VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES

Influenza and other respiratory infections
Fifty-seven cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 46 last week. In contrast to last week, 20 cases were due to influenza A (8 last week) and 37 cases caused by influenza B. Twenty-nine cases were males and 28 were females, with an age range of <1 to 83 years.

Charts on this site demonstrate a recent increase in respiratory disease activity in South Australia.

Invasive meningococcal disease
One case of invasive meningococcal disease was reported this week in a 19 year-old male from metropolitan Adelaide. Information was provided to more than 500 contacts at a tertiary institution, and five contacts required chemoprophylaxis. The infection was caused by Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B. 

Invasive pneumococcal disease
Three cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were reported in the period. All infections were recorded in males aged 52 to 74 years. Two cases resided in metropolitan Adelaide.

Pertussis
Twenty-four confirmed cases of pertussis were recorded this week, compared to 13 last week. However, a further 26 cases first notified last week have since been confirmed, bringing the total for last week to 39 cases.

This week, cases comprised 9 males and 15 females, with an age range of <1 to 85 years.  Five cases were aged <10 years, including an infant aged less than one year. Cases resided in a range of metropolitan and rural locations across South Australia.

Rotavirus
Five cases of rotavirus infection were notified during the week.  Notification reported infection in three males and two females, with two cases <2 years of age.

Varicella
Fifty-three cases of varicella infection were reported this week, compared to 48 last week. Cases comprised 20 males and 33 females with ages ranging from <1 to 88 years. To date, medical notification has characterised 14 infections as chicken pox and 7 as shingles.

OTHER DISEASES 

Rash Chart
Three cases of Ross River infection and three cases of Barmah Forest infection were reported in the period in three males and three females aged 10 to 75 years. The rash chart on this site illustrates a seasonally expected low level of arboviral activity. Prevention information on Ross River virus infection can be found on our website.

OUTBREAK TABLE

Summary of investigated outbreaks, 2000 to 2008