Attachments
The following syndrome has been flagged this week:
- Acute Fever and Rash: French Polynesia, Samoa.
Other Updates:
Invasive Meningococcal Disease
- Significant increase in Invasive Meningococcal Disease caused by serogroup W (MenW) in New Zealand since mid-2017. Between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017, there were 12 cases of MenW reported, including three deaths. This number has doubled to date for 2018, with 24 cases reported so far (as of 5 November), including six deaths. Prior to 2017, zero to six MenW cases were reported each year. The Northland region has been the most affected in 2018, with seven of the 24 cases reported in this region, including four cases in September and October.
This particular strain of MenW (sequence type ST11) affects all age groups and is associated with a high case-fatality rate. MenW can present with the classical signs of meningococcal disease but also atypically with gastro-intestinal symptoms, as well as pneumonia, septic arthritis, endocarditis or epi/supraglottitis..Source: Ministry of Health NZ
Polio
- One new case of circulating vaccine-derived polio virus type 1 (cVDPV1) was reported from East Sepik province, Angoram district, with onset of paralysis on 26 September from PNG. Total number of cases for the country in 2018 is 22.
Three Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) of expanding scope have taken place since late July, from three provinces to nine, to nation-wide. The most recent was aimed at children under the age of 15, due to large numbers of poorly-immunized older children. Source: Global Polio Eradication Initiative