COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE IN CROATIA

- Communicable disease case notification in  February

S a l m o n e l l o s i s. There were less cases registered in February than in January (157:257) which was about equal to February last year (150). The only, small, cluster is seen in Zagreb Susedgrad (11).

H e p a t i t i s  A (epidemic jaundice). There were no cases in February, neither in January. In last February 15 cases were recorded.

M o r b i l l i  (measles) The incidence decreased in February (10:53). A small cluster is observed in Dugo Selo (6) as the continuation of last month outbreak (see ENEW 1/2004).

P e r t u s s i s (whooping cough). There were 4 sporadic cases registered in February, equal to previous month.

M e n i n g i t i s   e p i d e m i c a. In February, there were less cases than in January (4:10), but similar to February last year (29.)

T r i c h i n e l l o s i s.  In February  12 cases were reported which is less than in February (22), and lower than in February last year (40). No significant clusters.

I n f l u e n z a. Steep seasonal increase is observed (38531:16964).

L y m e  b o r r e l i o s i s. Even in  winter a certain number of cases of this tick-born disease occurs: January:19, February: 11

- No reports in February from: Rab, Gračac and Lastovo. Total: (only) 3 out of 113 epidemiological districts.

- Epidemic outbreaks

Following outbreaks were reported in February:

Note: in all outbreaks mentioned here, epidemiological investigation and all necessary measures were undertaken, preventing thus other potential cases.

Čakovec - acute gastroenterocolitis in a home for elderly people. Between 18.1. and 31.1.2004. there were 24 diseased out of 165 exposed. Causative agent: rotavirus. Mode of spread: by contact

Opatija - salmonellosis in a kindergarten (S. enteritidis). Between 15.11. and 1.12. 2003. there were 6 cases out of 280 exposed. Source not found;: mode of spread not certain, no common food discovered.

Zagreb Črnomerec - salmonella food poisoning (S. enteritidis) among factory workers after a meal prepared for them in a nearby restaurant. There were 10 diseased out of 200 exposed. Vehicle not found with certainty. Subsequent investigation revealed four symptomless salmonella careers among the restaurant staff.

Slavonski Brod - family outbreak of acute gastroenterocolitis with 4 diseased between 1.2. and 5.2. 2004. Mode of spread probably by contact. Causative agent: Cryptosporidium. Mode of spread most probably by contact.

NEWS AND COMMENTS

- Malaria in Croatia 2003.

In 2003 there were 8 cases  of malaria registered in Croatia. All were imported i.e. acquired abroad, in some of malarial regions of the World. Malaria was eradicated in Croatia since 1962. Like every year here, in the table, we are presenting some data about those eight patients: area of acquiring malaria, type of malaric plasmodium and chemoprophylaxis data.

It can be seen that in the majority of cases chemoprophylaxis was not  conducted. Patient N^o1 represents most probably a case of resistance of P. falciparum to chloroquine, probably also patient  N^o2, taking chemoprophylaxis irregularly (also chloroquine), and being exposed on the same place and at the same time as patient N^o1. However, their symptoms were very mild and discrete, possibly owing to chlorochin taking.

Table 1 - Imported malaria in Croatia in 2003

The diseased were either sailors or professionals working in tropical countries. In two cases patients were treated abroad and came home to Croatia in early convalescent phase.
 

- Enteral bacteria in circulation, winter 2004.

The laboratory for enteral bacteria of the Croatian national institute of public health reports as usual their recent positive findings, this time for winter (January-March) of 2004. The table shows a rather low incidence of enteral bacteria as expected for the winter. Among salmonella isolates only S. enteritidis and S. braedenrup were detected.  

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN CROATIA                February  2004