Communicable Diseases in New Zealand

www.moh.govt.nz/cd

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Antibiotic resistance
Information about antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance, relevant hospital infection control policies and hospital antibiotic resistance monitoring, antibiotic prescribing, links to sites regarding surveillance and antibiotic use in food animals.

Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is primarily spread by contact with infected human blood and, previously, unscreened blood and blood products were a major source of infection. Since the introduction of screening of donated blood in 1992, the risk of hepatitis C transmission in New Zealand through blood and blood products has become very remote.

Today the greatest risk of transmission is through blood to blood contact involved with injecting drug use.

HIV/AIDS
Find information about treatment, guidelines and research and view a list of publications relating to HIV/AIDS

Immunisation
The immunisation of New Zealanders is the key objective of the Ministry of Health’s National Immunisation Programme, as is improving health by reducing vaccine-preventable diseases such as hepatitis B, measles and influenza.

Influenza
Influenza is a significant public health issue in New Zealand, not only in terms of morbidity and mortality, but in its financial impact, and its potential to overwhelm both primary care and hospital services during epidemics in the winter months.

Influenza A (H1N1)
Updates and information for the public and health sector.

Avian influenza (bird flu)
A number of Asian countries previously experienced outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu), affecting mainly poultry (chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys).

International Health Regulations Review
The current International Health Regulations 1969 (IHR) are the authoritative World Health Organization legal framework for preventing and controlling the spread of infectious disease around the world.

Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease is a serious disease and can sometimes cause death or permanent disability such as deafness or disfigurement. The Ministry of Health is offering free immunisation to all babies, children and young people aged six weeks to 19 years to help prevent this disease.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
SARS is a pneumonia-like illness that is caused by a virus. There are now no SARS-affected areas and the New Zealand Ministry of Health no longer advises against travel to any country on the basis of SARS.

Latest updates on SARS from the World Health Organization

Surveillance of communicable diseases
Information on communicable diseases under surveillance can be found on the ESR website (www.esr.cri.nz)


Tuberculosis Control
Tuberculosis control in the 21st century faces many challenges at the global, regional and national level. The problems of poverty, adherence to treatment and stigma still prevail, while increasing drug resistance and HIV co-infection demand new approaches.

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Page last updated: 7 May 2009