PHF Science today released Notifiable Diseases in New Zealand: Annual Report 2024, revealing key shifts in the country’s infectious-disease landscape. The report analyses thousands of notifiable disease notifications nationwide, highlighting both successes in disease control and areas requiring attention.
Key findings at a glance:
- Pertussis (whooping cough): notifications rose sharply in 2024 compared with 2023. Infants under one year had the highest notification rate, and nearly two-thirds (65%) of infants required hospital care.
- Cryptosporidiosis and hepatitis A: both enteric infections increased, with recreational water contact and contact with farm animals the most common risk factors for cryptosporidiosis. Over 60% of hepatitis A cases were associated with overseas travel.
- Legionellosis: Notifications declined overall, though adults aged 60 years and older remain most at risk. Eighty-three per cent of cases reported exposure to recognised environmental sources e.g. hot water systems, air conditioning cooling towers, compost and potting mix.
- Vector-borne diseases: Dengue fever notifications increased significantly, all due to international travel, especially to Indonesia (50% of cases). Malaria notifications decreased, the most commonly visited countries were the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
- Tuberculosis cases increased in 2024, with 365 cases notified. Adults aged 30–39 years had the highest notification rate. The majority (91%) of tuberculosis cases were born overseas.
Expert perspective
“Pertussis remains a serious threat to our most vulnerable infants,” said PHF Science Public Health Physician, Dr Sarah Jefferies. “The sharp increase in pertussis cases we’ve seen reinforces the need for timely childhood and antenatal vaccinations."
"While we saw a decline in some serious notifiable diseases over the past 5 years associated with COVID-19 response measures, such as closing New Zealand’s borders, the increase in travel-related diseases in 2024, like dengue fever, is a stark reminder that our major infectious disease risks are closely linked to what is happening overseas, where serious preventable diseases like measles have been resurging. Health New Zealand’s website is a good source for advice on the actions we can all take to fight against these serious infectious diseases,” Dr Jefferies added.
About the report
The annual Notifiable Diseases in New Zealand report is a cornerstone of national notifiable disease surveillance. Data are mainly drawn from EpiSurv to inform disease prevention, health policy, and public health guidance across the health sector.