Volume 7, Number 5—October 2001
Perspective
Emerging Infectious Diseases in an Island Ecosystem: The New Zealand Perspective
John A. Crump*
, David R. Murdoch†, and Michael G. Baker‡
, David R. Murdoch†, and Michael G. Baker‡
Table
Key infectious disease threats facing New Zealand
| Infectious disease category | Important examples | Contributing factors |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccine-preventable diseases | Measles Pertussis Influenza | Inadequate vaccine coverage |
| Respiratory-transmitted diseases | Meningococcal disease Tuberculosis Rheumatic fever | Socioeconomic deprivation and crowding |
| Enteric diseases | Campylobacteriosis Salmonellosis Cryptosporidiosis Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli Yersiniosis Marine biotoxins | High density of reservoir animals Long coastline (in the case of marine biotoxins) |
| Zoonotic disease | Leptospirosis | High levels of infection in animal populations |
| Diseases from contaminated environments | Legionellosis | Uncertain |
| Travel-associated and imported infectious diseases | Hepatitis A Tuberculosis HIV/AIDS | High rates of overseas travel Relatively high levels of immigration |
| Vector-borne diseases | Ross River virus Dengue virus | Suitable vector mosquitoes and potential NZ habitats |
| Blood-borne diseases | Hepatitis C | Continuing sharing of injecting equipment by injecting drug users |
| Sexually transmitted infections | Chlamydia Gonorrhea | Increased levels of sexual activity among young people |
| Hospital-acquired infections | MRSA Acinetobacter spp. Serratia spp. | Disease burden poorly defined in NZ and no national HAI surveillance system |
| Diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms | Penicillin-nonsusceptible pneumococci VRE MDR-TB | Microbial evolution and incorrect use of antimicrobial agents |
Abbreviations used in this table: NZ, New Zealand; HAI, hospital-acquired infection; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; VRE, vancomycin-resistant enterococci; MDR-TB, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
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