A survey of virus infections in New Zealand, 1982-6

Between 1982 and 1986 virus infections were identified in 16,372 cases. These identifications were based on virus isolation and/or serological evidence of infection by the main virus diagnostic laboratories at Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch and Dunedin hospitals, and at the National Health Institute. The most frequent virus identifications reported were herpes simplex (46.7%), rotavirus (11.8%), respiratory syncytial virus (5.7%), and adenovirus (5.6%). During this period of surveillance, the most prominent feature has been the high incidence of herpes simplex which reached a peak in 1983 but which has abated only slightly since. Significant trends and virus outbreaks or epidemics were detected with the regular reporting of monthly virus identifications in the New Zealand Virus Report (NZVR); these included a measles epidemic in Auckland in 1984/85, major influenza A outbreaks in 1983, 1985 and 1986, the respiratory syncytial virus epidemic in the winter of 1986, the increased incidence of rotavirus predominantly in young infants and children during the winter months, outbreaks of enterovirus type 71 and parainfluenza type 3 infections in 1986, and rubella in 1984.