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. 2008 Jul;2(4):139-45.
doi: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2008.00050.x.

Influenza surveillance and immunisation in New Zealand, 1997-2006

Q Sue Huang  1 , Liza D Lopez, Lisa McCallum, Bruce Adlam
Affiliations

Influenza surveillance and immunisation in New Zealand, 1997-2006

Q Sue Huang et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2008 Jul.

Abstract

Background: The national influenza surveillance in New Zealand is an essential public health component for assessing and implementing strategies to control influenza.

Objective: The aim of this study is to report the national influenza surveillance data collected during 1997-2006 in terms of the community disease burden, circulating viral strains, hospitalisations, mortality, and immunisation coverage.

Methods: The national influenza surveillance system includes sentinel general practice surveillance, laboratory-based surveillance, and hospital admission and mortality surveillance and immunisation coverage. The results obtained during 1997-2006 were analysed.

Results: When the last 10 years were compared to the previous years, sentinel general practice surveillance recorded a decreasing trend of influenza-like illness rates in the community. Sentinel surveillance also showed that children aged 0-4 years were the most affected. Influenza-related hospitalisation surveillance reported an increasing trend of hospital admissions particularly in children aged 0-19 years. Introduction of routine influenza vaccination among the New Zealand elderly was associated with a significant decrease of influenza-related mortality.

Conclusions: This report demonstrates that an integrated virological and epidemiological surveillance system for influenza is essential for monitoring the disease burden, identifying circulating strains, guiding effective vaccination and planning for a potential pandemic.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of population covered by sentinel general practice in New Zealand in 2006.
Figure 2
Figure 2
National influenza surveillance data.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of influenza hospitalisation rates by age group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of influenza mortality rates by age group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Ministry of Health NZ . Immunisation Handbook 2002. Wellington: Ministry of Health, New Zealand, 2002.
    1. Jennings L, Huang QS, Baker M et al. Influenza surveillance and immunisation in New Zealand 1990–1999. N Z Public Health Rep 2001;8:9–16.
    1. Huang QS, Lopez L, Adlam B. Influenza surveillance in New Zealand in 2005. N Z Med J 2007;120:U2581. - PubMed
    1. Bohmer PD, Jennings LC, Smith LB et al. The national influenza immunisation strategy group: a New Zealand model for influenza vaccination promotion. Int Congr Ser 2004;1263:799–804.
    1. Elliot AJ, Fleming DM. Surveillance of influenza‐like illness in England and Wales during 1966–2006. Euro Surveill 2006;11:249–250. - PubMed

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