Respiratory infections surveillance

Winter is traditionally a time when respiratory infections are common amongst the population. Although most of these are not serious in the vast majority of individuals, they can cause complications, particularly for those who are immunocompromised and, for example, those with chronic cardiac, respiratory or renal disease.

They are also responsible for significant morbidity in the community and associated socio-economic burdens, eg increases in the workload of healthcare workers, absence from work and non-attendance in schools.

Meningococcal disease

The commonest form of bacterial meningitis is caused by infection with Neisseria Meningitidis.

Meningococcal disease may present as meningitis (inflammation of the brain meninges) and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning) and is most common during the winter months.

Case definitions

Confirmed case: Clinical diagnosis of meningitis, septicaemia or other invasive disease AND at least one of:

Hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E)

Hepatitis was traditionally separated into two types based on clinical and epidemiological characteristics: type A caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and type B caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cannot be cultivated, and it was only through recombinant DNA technology that a diagnostic test was devised to identify hepatitis C as the major cause of what had previously been termed non-A non-B (NANB) hepatitis.

Gastrointestinal infections data

Gastrointestinal infections

This page provides surveillance data on selected gastrointestinal diseases. For information on the symptoms, treatment and reporting of gastrointestinal illness please click here.

For a more detailed analysis of the main gastrointestinal diseases please see the latest annual report under the publications section below.

Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow

On World Health Day 7 April 2011, the Public Health Agency (PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) are encouraging the appropriate use of antibiotics to reduce the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.Antibiotics do not work against viruses such as colds and flu and therefore are of no benefit in treating viral infections and may lead to undesirable side effects such as diarrhoea.

‘Dead Fat’ – obesity and public health

The Public Health Agency welcomes the contribution of the BBC ‘Dead Fat’ programme in highlighting the serious health risks associated with being overweight and obese. Obesity is a major public health issue in Northern Ireland and needs a coordinated approach across society to support individuals who want to make life saving changes. The PHA is committed to playing a lead role to help prevent and reduce the levels of overweight and obesity amongst the population of Northern Ireland.

Simplification of childhood immunisation schedule

On 1 April 2011, the childhood immunisation schedule will change to make it simpler and easier for parents, to protect babies at an earlier stage. The change consists of combining the visits that are currently made at 12 months of age, when children receive a combined Hib and Meningococcal C vaccine, and the visit at 13 months of age when they receive their first MMR and pneumococcal booster vaccine. These vaccines will now be combined into one visit, which will take place just after the child’s first birthday.

Influenza Weekly Surveillance Bulletin Northern Ireland, Weeks 10 and 11 (5–18 March 2011)

The Influenza Weekly Surveillance Bulletin is produced by the PHA and covers statistics for Northern Ireland. The bulletin is currently produced every other week.

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