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[Situation of Diseases of Compulsory Declaration (DCDs) in Navarra. 1998]
M Urtiaga1, N de Pablo, A Zabalza
1Instituto de Salud Pública, Pamplona.
Insights
In 1998, influenza was the only respiratory disease exceeding epidemic levels in Navarra, with over 44,000 cases. Meningococcal disease incidence was low, with serogroup C causing two deaths.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health Surveillance
Context:
- The System of Epidemiological Vigilance of Navarra monitors 33 transmissible infectious diseases and epidemic outbreaks.
- Weekly notifications are submitted by physicians to the Institute of Public Health and centralized nationally.
Purpose:
- To report on the epidemiological status of infectious diseases in Navarra during 1998.
- To analyze trends and characteristics of influenza, meningococcal disease, and Legionnaire's disease.
Summary:
- Influenza was the sole respiratory disease with an epidemic index above 1 in 1998, reporting 44,666 cases with a seasonal peak in early weeks.
- Meningococcal disease incidence was low (2.88/100,000), with 15 sporadic cases, primarily serogroup C (9 cases, 2 fatal) and serogroup B (6 cases).
- Six isolated cases of Legionnaire's disease, presenting as pneumonia, were reported in middle-aged individuals in southern Navarra.
Impact:
- Provides crucial data for understanding infectious disease dynamics and informing public health interventions in Navarra.
- Highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance for seasonal and sporadic infectious diseases.
Abstract:
The System of Epidemiological Vigilance of Navarra comprises the notification of 33 transmissible infectious diseases, to which are added epidemic outbreaks of any etiology or cause. Notification to the system is carried out on a weekly basis by any doctor who suspects or diagnoses any of the processes. In our Autonomous Community, the Diseases of Compulsory Declaration (DCDs) are reported to the Section of Vigilance and Epidemiological Control of the Institute of Public Health, on a weekly basis by the doctors of Primary and Specialised Care. Subsequently, the information is sent to the National Centre of Epidemiology, where data from the Autonomous Communities is centralised. In 1998, with respect to the heading of diseases of respiratory transmission, the only disease that showed an epidemic index higher than 1 was Flu, with 44,666 reported cases, (Estimated Incidence: 1.15), and which has a clear seasonal component ñin the first 8 weeks of the year 67% of the cases corresponding to the yearly total were reportedñ with a maximum in week 4 with 6,361 reported cases. Fifteen cases of meningococcal disease were diagnosed, (Rate 2.88 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), lower to that declared in 1997 and the second lowest in the last 25 years after the rate of 2.31 in 1994. All of the cases were confirmed microbiologically and appeared in a sporadic way. With respect to the causative serogroup, on 9 occasions serogroup C was isolated, with the latter responsible for the death of a girl and an elderly woman. On 6 occasions Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B was isolated. By age group, 4 cases were declared in children under 2 years of age (46.1 per 100,000), nine cases in children between 2 and 19 years of age (8.65 per 100,000) and the two remaining cases in persons of 20 years or above (0.49 per 100,000). The predominant clinical form was sepsis in 9 cases and meningitis in the 6 remaining cases. Six cases of Legionnaire's disease were declared in 1998, all under the clinical form of pneumonia; these were isolated cases of middle-aged persons resident, in five cases, in different localities in the south of Navarra without any antecedents of travelling.