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COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE IN CROATIA

n    Communicable disease case notification in February

T o x i i n f e c t i o   a l i m e n t a r i s. Number of cases registered in February is higher than in previous month (422:325) and also higher than in February last year (157). It should be noted that under this name (entity) cases presenting as vomiting with enteral disturbances (gastroenterocolitis) are included although some of them, depending on their etiology,  need not necessary be connected with food consumption. Such diseases (viral) were rather frequent this autumn and winter. In February clusters are seen in Split (30) and Zagreb Črnomerec (31).

M o r b i l l i (measles), & r u b e l l a. Like in January no cases also in February, owing to systematic vaccination.

V a r i c e l l a (chicken pox). Varicella high season continues (2570: 2584).

M e n i n g i t i s   e p i d e m i c a. There were 5 sporadic cases in February, which is similar to January (4) and to February last year (4).

S y p h i l i s. More cases were reported in February than in January (6:2). In February last year no cases had been registered.

P n e u m o n i a. Incidence raised in February  (1083:962) being significantly higher than in February last year (593).

I n f l u e n z a. Steep seasonal increase is observed (17219:347). Last year the outbreak started earlier with 38531 cases registered in February (see: News and comments).

n      No reports in February from: Lastovo and Gračac, only two out of 113 epidemiological districts.

n      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.

Pula - gastroenteritis in a hospital. Causative agent: Norwalk v., genogroup 2. Between 23.11. and 22.12. 2004 there were 85 diseased (patients and staff). Mode of spread combined: by contact and aerogenic. 

Šibenik - salmonella food poisoning (S. enteritidis) in  persons eating  cakes from a pastry shop. Between 22.12. and the end of January 2005 a total of 29 cases were recorded. Source not found with certainty; salmonella carriers found among staff afterwards.

Krapina - enterocolitis of unknown etiology (bacteriological examinations negative) in a social institution. There were 48 diseased out of 516 exposed between 4.1. and 20.1. 2005. Mode of spread probably contact.

Labin - gastoenteritis in a home for elderly persons. Between 16.1. and 25.1. 2005. there were 32 diseased out of 81 exposed. Causative agent: Norwalk virus, genogroup 2. Mode of spread combined: by contact and via droplets. 

Koprivnica - salmonella food poisoning (S. enteritidis) in a factory canteen starting on 26.1. 2005. Vehicle epidemiologically: panned fish. Total of 7 cases recorded out of 40 exposed.

Dubrovnik - head lice in a kindergarten On 26.1. 2005 total of 17 infested were detected out of 75 exposed.

Pakrac - enterocolitis in a home for elderly persons with 22 diseased out of 39 exposed between 27.1. and 3.2. 2005. Causative agent not found (bacteriological examinations negative) No common food discovered. Mode of spread probably combined: by contact and via droplets.

Zagreb - Centar - gastroenteritis in a hospital. Between 30.1. and 7.2. 2005 there were 12 diseased on a pediatric ward. Causative agent: Rota virus. Mode of spread: contact.

NEWS AND COMMENTS

n      Influenza

        Until second half of February influenza was present but outbreak did not really start. Since then the number of cases increased rapidly. The laboratory of the National influenza center at the Croatian national institute of public health reports that in first weeks three different strains of influenza virus were detected in patients: A/H1N1/New Caledonia, B/Shanghai and B/Hong Kong. Somewhat later one more strain was detected i.e. A/H3N2/Fujian, more precisely the closely related Wyoming strain. So in present outbreak all strains predicted for the season were found in circulation, and in addition one B strain that was circulating here in previous seasons.

n      II. Croatian epidemiological congress

Here we are announcing that The Second Croatian Epidemiological Congress with international participation will be held this autumn in the town of Rovinj between 26. and 29. October 2005.

The organizer of congress is The Croatian epidemiological society of the Croatian medical association. Main topics of the congress are:

- Epidemiological methods

- Epidemiology and new laboratory possibilities

- genetic epidemiology

- molecular epidemiology

- other

- Epidemiology of communicable diseases

- immunizations

- epidemiology of zoonoses

- outbreak control interventions

- other

- Epidemiology of chronic mass diseases

- cancer epidemiology

- epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases

- epidemiology of thraumatism

- other

The previous Congress was held, very successfully, in Split in 1999.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN CROATIA                                February  2005