PMID- 17503651
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20070620
LR  - 20131029
IS  - 1447-4514 (Print)
IS  - 1447-4514 (Linking)
VI  - 31
IP  - 1
DP  - 2007 Mar
TI  - Public health management of increased incidence of meningococcal disease in the 
      Australian Capital Territory: 2003 to 2004.
PG  - 112-8
AB  - This paper describes a sudden increase of meningococcal notifications in the 
      Australian Capital Territory within a 3 month period, and the public health 
      strategies used to manage it. There were 15 cases of meningococcal disease 
      notified to the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) section, Australian Capital 
      Territory Health (ACT Health), between 6 November 2003 and 5 February 2004. This 
      was much higher than the annual average of 6 cases. The cases were notified in 2 
      clusters. The first cluster of 8 cases, all serogroup C, was notified between 6 
      November to 8 December 2003. Seven of these cases had an identical phenotype 
      C:2a:P1.4 suggesting a common source. The second cluster of 7 cases was notified 
      between 30 December 2003 and 5 February 2004. Of these, 5 were serogroup B, 1 was 
      serogroup W-135 and 1 was serogroup C, whose phenotype (C:2a:P1.4) was identical 
      to the phenotype of the first cluster of serogroup C cases. Phenotypes were not 
      available for the serogroup B cases. There were 4 main interventions developed to 
      manage the increased incidence based on the epidemiology of the cases; these were 
      implemented concurrently. Factors that supported investigation and management 
      were good surveillance systems, quick turnover of laboratory tests, regular 
      communication with relevant health agencies and maintaining public awareness. As 
      the number of cases notified was much higher than the annual average, the 
      possibility of a community outbreak was considered. The Guidelines for the Early 
      Clinical and Public Health Management of Meningococcal Disease in Australia 
      (national guidelines) were consulted to determine whether there was an outbreak 
      and the influence this had on management is also discussed.
FAU - Isaac-Toua, Geetha
AU  - Isaac-Toua G
AD  - National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National 
      University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 
      Geetha.Isaac-Toua@health.gov.au
FAU - Guest, Charles
AU  - Guest C
FAU - Hiam, Rona
AU  - Hiam R
FAU - Passaris, Irene
AU  - Passaris I
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - Australia
TA  - Commun Dis Intell Q Rep
JT  - Communicable diseases intelligence quarterly report
JID - 101601804
RN  - 0 (Meningococcal Vaccines)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adolescent
MH  - Australian Capital Territory/epidemiology
MH  - Communicable Disease Control/*methods
MH  - Humans
MH  - Incidence
MH  - Meningococcal Infections/*epidemiology
MH  - Meningococcal Vaccines/economics/immunology
MH  - Public Health Administration/*methods
MH  - Time Factors
EDAT- 2007/05/17 09:00
MHDA- 2007/06/21 09:00
CRDT- 2007/05/17 09:00
PHST- 2007/05/17 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2007/06/21 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2007/05/17 09:00 [entrez]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Commun Dis Intell Q Rep. 2007 Mar;31(1):112-8.