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15 November 2005 Communicable Diseases report shows STDs a concern
NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos today released the latest communicable disease surveillance report which shows that health was notified of 57,783 people with communicable diseases in 2004, up from 44,834 the previous year. "The 2004 disease surveillance report shows that meningococcal disease, hepatitis C, and rubella have decreased," Mr Hatzistergos said. "However it also shows that gastroenteritis, chlamydia, whooping cough and mumps have increased. "Monitoring these diseases is essential for detecting and controlling outbreaks, and for designing better public health prevention programs. "The decline in rubella in recent years shows just how effective vaccination against that disease has been. The vaccination program for meningococcal C is also showing good results in the target group. "To some extent these increases are also attributable to better detection and recording of outbreaks of notifiable communicable diseases. "I am particularly concerned about the increase in some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The rise in syphilis was mainly among gay men in the inner city. Chlamydia has also increased among young heterosexual men and women. "Sexually transmissible diseases are highly preventable through use of condoms. If you practice unsafe sex, you are putting you and your partners health on the line. "Infections like chlamydia can increase the risk of serious and costly diseases like pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and miscarriage. "Syphilis, gonorrhoea and other STDs have become common in some communities, particularly gay men, and might also increase the risk of infection with HIV (the AIDS virus). "This data on infections has also been used to inform prevention campaigns in affected communities," Mr Hatzistergos said. Safe Sex Campaign The 'Safe Sex. No Regrets.' campaign run by NSW Health delivered the condom use message across a number of mediums, including mainstream television advertisements, bus interiors, convenience posters, educational booklets and advertisements in specialist publications such as gay, ethnic and Aboriginal media. A 30-second television commercial was aired as part of the campaign and information was also available from a dedicated telephone hotline. NSW Health also works closely with health professionals to ensure people are properly Letters were sent to more than 8000 general practitioners across NSW to help reinforce the message with their patients. The campaign was developed in close consultation with organisations such as the AIDS Council of NSW, Family Planning Health and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council. NSW Health is currently evaluating the effectiveness of the 'Safe Sex. No Regrets.' campaign and looking at repeating the campaign. Conditions on the decline
Conditions on the rise
"Increases in gastroenteritis and foodborne illness are due largely to improved detection and reporting," Mr Hatzistergos said. "I am advised that a new strain of norovirus that swept NSW in 2004 may have been responsible for the large increase in gastroenteritis. To access the latest edition of the NSW Public Health Bulletin, click on the link on the homepage of the NSW Health website: www.health.nsw.gov.au For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au |
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