NZPHR Vol 9 No 4 Oct-Dec 2002
Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Lead Article
The rising incidence of salmonella infection in New Zealand, 1995-2001 Salmonellosis is caused by human infection with nontyphoidal subtypes of Salmonella enterica. Nontyphoidal salmonellosis has been increasing in New Zealand, so it is timely to review the epidemiology of this disease. Data sources were notifications from 1952, matched notification and laboratory data for the 1995-2001 period and disease outbreak data from 1998- 2001. The average incidence of notified salmonellosis in New Zealand during 1995 to 2001 was 1706 cases per annum (46.1 per 100 000), including 167 hospitalisations per year. Twelve deaths occurred during the seven-year period (case fatality rate 0.1%). The highest annual incidence recorded in New Zealand was 2417 cases in 2001. Among laboratory confirmed cases, the most frequently identified serotypes were S. Typhimurium (64.3%), S. Enteritidis (9.8%) and S. Brandenburg (6.1%). S. Typhimurium phage types 135 and 160 and S. Brandenburg increased over the period. Incidence rates were highest among children under five years (158.4 per 100 000), males (46.5) and Europeans (43.8). Rates were highest in the southern half of the South Island, especially South Canterbury and Southland health districts. Between 1998 and 2001, 137 outbreaks of salmonellosis were reported, with a median of three cases per outbreak. Laboratory confirmed cases in outbreaks accounted for 5.0% of cases over that period. This review provides good evidence that the incidence of salmonellosis in New Zealand is increasing, particularly in the last five years. Control of this disease requires managing the multiple exposure sources that are important in New Zealand, including contaminated food, drinking water, occupational exposure to farm animals, and secondary transmission. Medical practitioners have a critical role in salmonellosis control, by diagnosing and promptly notifying cases to support outbreak recognition and control, and by advising cases or care-givers on ways of reducing the risk of secondary transmission.
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