Preliminary
Infectious Disease Summary, Utah, March 2006
Disease Data
and Graphics
A preliminary total
number of confirmed and suspect cases for selected diseases, reported
by Utah health
districts, is provided below (Table I and Figure I). These numbers are subject
to change upon the completion of ongoing disease investigations.
"Suspect" cases are cases that may become confirmed upon
final investigation or may be dismissed as a case when the investigation
has been completed. Figure II represents
the percent change in selected communicable disease incidence in
2006 when compared to a 5-year average.
Click on the disease
names in the table to access their corresponding fact sheets. Click here for sexually transmitted disease epidemiologic data. Click here for AIDS/HIV epidemiologic data.
March 2006 Epidemiology
Highlights
Chickenpox
The number of reported chickenpox cases was higher than expected
from areas along the Wasatch Front and northern Utah in March. Chickenpox
is usually a childhood disease with peak occurrence during late
winter and early spring. Chickenpox preventative measures include
receiving the vaccine that was licensed in 1995 by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine can be administered to
healthy people aged 1 year or older who have had no previous chickenpox
illness. Call the Immunization Hotline (1-800-275-0659) for more
information on the vaccine. Click here for more information about chickenpox.
Coccidioidomycosis
Ten suspected coccidioidomycosis cases were reported in Utah
during March. Coccidioidomycosis is a disease caused by the fungus
Coccidioides immitis. This fungus lives in soil and is found in
certain areas of the southwestern U.S. The majority of cases reported
in March were from the southwestern part of the state, as expected.
The number of fungal
coccidioidomycosis cases infections reported varies from year to
year and may be affected by rainfall and soil conditions. Southwestern
Utah experienced above-average rainfall in the spring and summer
months of 2005, which may be consistent with an increase in reported
cases from that area since that time. Click here for more information about the disease.
Influenza
Click here to view up-to-date information regarding influenza virus activity
in the state.
Viral Meningitis
The number of suspected viral meningitis cases reported in
Utah was higher than expected during March. Local health departments
are investigating the cases. Click here for more information on meningitis.
Pertussis (“Whooping
Cough”)
The number of reported pertussis cases in Utah continued to
be higher than expected during March. Many other states in the U.S.
have also reported a sustained increase in the number of pertussis
cases reported during the past year.
Pertussis is a common
cause of chronic coughing during community outbreaks (click here to hear samples of whooping cough sounds). Pertussis is spread by
close contact with people that are contagious. Sick people can spread
the disease when they talk, cough or sneeze. Testing and vaccination
for pertussis can help interrupt the spread of the disease and guide
doctors in the appropriate use of antibiotics for treatment of the
bacterial infection. A new pertussis booster vaccine for adolescents
received approval by the FDA in May 2005. It is recommended that
adults from 19 to 64 years of age be vaccinated with the new (Tdap)
booster to prevent the disease. The new vaccine helps protect adults
from pertussis, and reduces the risk of spreading the disease to
infants, who are at greatest risk of complications associated with
the disease. Call the Immunization Hotline (1-800-275-0659) for
more information on the vaccine.
Click here for more information on pertussis and click here to compare historical Utah pertussis rates with national rates.
Invasive Pneumococcal
Disease
The number of invasive pneumococcal diseases reported in March was
much higher than the 5-year average (presumably due to improved
disease reporting), however, the number is still much lower than
expected for the state when compared with national data. There are
several known preventive measures that may be taken against invasive
pneumococcal disease. There are pediatric and adult versions of
a pneumococcal vaccine that may reduce the occurrence of severe
disease in both infants and older adults (the two most commonly
affected age groups). Click here for more information on invasive pneumococcal disease.
Tetanus
A case of the rare disease, tetanus, was reported in March.
It was the first case reported in Utah in 9 years. Tetanus is a
disease of the nervous system caused by a bacterial toxin. The bacteria
usually enter the body through a wound or break in the skin. Symptoms
include “lockjaw”, stiffness in the neck and abdomen,
and difficulty swallowing. Other symptoms include elevated blood
pressure, elevated temperature, and rapid heart rate. Complete recovery
from the disease may take months.
Tetanus disease is not
only rare in Utah, but in the U.S. as well. Only 20 preliminary
cases were reported in 2005. Almost all reported cases have occurred
in persons that either have never been vaccinated or who have not
received the recommended booster shot in the preceding 10 years.
Call the Immunization Hotline (1-800-275-0659) for more information
on the vaccine. Click here for more information about tetanus.
