Research and analysis

HPR volume 11 issue 44: news (8 December)

Updated 15 December 2017

UK zoonoses overview report for 2016

The Zoonoses Overview Report UK 2016, published this week by Public Health England [1], brings together data on zoonotic infections in human and animal populations, reported during 2016, from across the UK [1].

The report includes feature articles highlighting human and animal incidents and issues of public health significance. One of these reviews locally-acquired cases of Corynebacterium ulcerans to highlight the importance of this pathogen in diphtheria-like illness in the UK. Between 2011 and 2016, 11 of 22 diphtheria cases were due to C. ulcerans and all of these reported contact with companion animals. C. ulcerans has been identified as an emerging threat for human infection in developed countries. Effective management of a case requires co-ordination between animal and human health agencies.

Another key article entitled “Psittacosis in a family who kept parrots” describes an outbreak investigation that required close collaboration between animal and human health agencies. Psittacosis is primarily an infection of birds and is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. Three members of the same family (but in different households) fell ill and were clinically diagnosed with psittacosis; one was confirmed with C. psittaci. Two pet parrots were tested and one was positive for C. psittaci. A number of issues were encountered during management of the incident and as a result, national guidance for the investigation of psittacosis incidents is being developed by the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group [2].

Human and animal disease specific information is presented for a select group of pathogens, with links provided to more in-depth information. Tables listing a wider range of zoonotic diseases infections in both humans and animals can also be found in the report. Some data from previous years has been updated following a data cleaning exercise. Human and animal data for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are reported separately in tables.

The Zoonoses Overview Report UK 2016 is available, together with earlier zoonoses annual reports, on the Zoonoses: UK Annual Reports webpage on the PHE website [1]. Production of the report led by was led by the PHE National Infection Service’s Emerging Infections and Zoonoses section in collaboration with 13 other organisations: Defra, FSA, DH and APHA; the Scottish Government, HPS, SRUC and FSS; the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute, the Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland and DAERA; the Welsh Government and PHW.

References

1. PHE website. Zoonoses: UK annual reports.

2. PHE website. Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance group.

Infection reports in this issue of HPR

The following GI infection reports are published in this issue:

• Salmonella and shigella infections (faecal specimens, E&W): October/November 2017
• Common GI infections (laboratory reports, E&W): weeks 44-47/2017
• Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals: weeks 44-47/2017