Health protection involves the prevention and control of threats to health from communicable diseases and the environment. In NSW these functions are carried out by a range of groups, including Health Protection NSW’s Communicable Diseases and Environmental Health branches in partnership with branches within the Ministry of Health, local health districts’ (LHD) public health units (PHUs), clinicians, government agencies, local government and communities. Here we highlight some of the more significant disease events and prevention activities involving Health Protection NSW in 2017. Where available, we provide links to more detailed reports.
Tables 1 to 6 show disease-specific data on notifiable conditions reported by year of onset of illness, month of onset of illness, local health district of residence, and age group and sex. Note that the degree to which notification data reflect the true incidence of disease varies and is subject to a range of caveats.
