Could laboratory-based notification improve the control of foodborne illness in New Zealand?
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the completeness and timeliness of notifications of seven potentially foodborne diseases in Auckland.


METHODS
The diseases audited were shigellosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, yersiniosis, listeriosis, hepatitis A and verocytotoxigenic (VTEC) E. coli infections. Hospital and community laboratory-confirmed cases for the calendar year 2000 were audited against those notified to the Auckland Regional Public Health Service. Cases were matched on disease, name, date of birth, gender and National Health Index number.


RESULTS
There were 3182 laboratory-confirmed cases of the seven diseases identified of which 77% had been notified to the Auckland Regional Public Health Service. The proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases notified ranged from a 65% for hepatitis A to 100% for VTEC infection. The median delay between laboratory confirmation and practitioner notification was two days. Notification of all laboratory-confirmed cases would have resulted in an estimated 145 additional investigations in the year 2000.


CONCLUSIONS
A change to laboratory-based notification could improve public health investigation and control of foodborne disease in New Zealand.
Auckland Regional Public Health. gregs@adhb.govt.nz
Greg
G
Simmons
Robyn
R
Whittaker
Kerry
K
Boyle
Arthur J
AJ
Morris
Arlo
A
Upton
Lester
L
Calder
D018563:Disease Notification / Q000379:methods*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance