[Surveillance of notifiable infectious diseases in Bavaria - results in 2002].

In 2002 nearly 36 000 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were reported in Bavaria representing a 10 % increase compared to 2001 (33 000 cases). As in 2001, around 75 % of reported cases were gastrointestinal infections. Every third infection was due to salmonella. As compared to last year, the incidence of Norwalk-like virus infections increased fivefold. These infections occurred mostly as outbreaks in nursing homes, hospitals or other institutions, affecting as many as 200 persons. Other frequently reported infections in Bavaria are tuberculosis and hepatitis. The relatively high incidence of measles is mainly due to an outbreak in Coburg. The decline in the incidence of tuberculosis observed over the last years has ceased. Around 70 % of reported hepatitis cases were due to hepatitis C. It should be noted that these cases were a mixture of new infections and ongoing infections diagnosed for the first time. Of great epidemiological importance are diseases caused by meningitis pathogens. The incidence of meningococcal infections was practically unchanged as compared to last year. Around half of them were caused by serotype B, which is currently not preventable by vaccination. Meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae B is continually declining due to the high vaccination rate and is very rarely reported. Several cases of FSME were described. According to investigations carried out by health departments these infections were acquired in countries not yet classified as FSME risk areas. Hence, the endemics maps of FSME have to be revised. Two years of reporting according to IfSG (infectious disease control law) yielded very encouraging results, i. e. rapid accessibility of data, flexibility, complete and standardised reporting with high quality of data. We thank all the reporting physicians and laboratories and the staff of the Bavarian health departments for their continuous support.