UNLABELLED

This article aims at evaluating the epidemiological situation of infectious and parasitic diseases in Poland in 2013.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This article was mainly based on the statistical data derived from annual bulletins "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2013" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2013" (NIPH-NIH, CSI, Warsaw 2014) and data specified in particular articles of the epidemiological chronicle of the current issue of the Epidemiological Review. Data on fatal cases due to infectious and parasitic diseases registered in Poland in 2013 and previous years were obtained from the Demographic Surveys and Labour Market Department of the Central Statistical Office.

RESULTS

As with the previous years, upper respiratory tract infections classified as "influenza and influenza-like illness" were the most prevalent with a total number cases amounting to 3,164,405 (8,218.7/100,000). Compared to 1,460,037 (3,789.0/100,000) cases registered in 2012 and the median of 2007-2011, it was an increase of incidence by 116.9% and 469.5%, respectively. In 2013, a decreasing tendency of incidence of bacterial intestinal infections was sustained. Out of bacterial infections, those caused by coccobacilli of Salmonella spp. were still predominant. In 2013, a total of 7 578 (19.7/100,000) such cases were reported. Compared to 2012 and the median of 2007-2011, it was a decrease of incidence by 10.0% and 21.9%, respectively. A total of 42 699 (110.9/100,000) viral intestinal infections were reported. In this group, the most common were infections caused by rotaviruses--23,529 (61.1/100,000). Having referred to 2012, incidence decreased by ca 0.6%, while in comparison with the median of 2007-2011, it was an increase by 5.5%. Compared to 2012, an incidence of diarrhoea of unspecified origin in children under 2 years old increased by 28.4%. In 2013, a total of 2,183 pertussis cases (5.7/100,000) were registered, which compared to the previous year indicated a decrease of incidence by 53%. In 2013, a decrease of mumps incidence by 12.3% was noted. Compared to the previous year, there was more than 5-fold increase of rubella incidence. In 2012, the number of rubella cases was 6,263 (16.3/100,000), while in 2013--38,548 (100.1/100,000). Considerable increase in the number of rubella cases resulted from compensatory epidemic which affected mainly boys who were not inoculated with MMR vaccine. In 2013, there were 2 cases of congenital rubella. A total of 84 cases (0.22/100,000) of measles were reported. In 2013, the number of invasive disease cases caused by H. influenzae was 25 (0.06/100,000). Compared to 2012 and the median of 2007-2011, incidence decreased by 30.5% and 19.3%, respectively. The number of infections of Streptococcus pneumoniae etiology in 2013 amounted to 540. Compared to 2012 and the median of 2007-2011, there was an increase by 22.5% and 95.3%, respectively. Having considered the data of 2012, the number of sepsis cases caused by this pathogen increased by 32.9%. Compared to 2012, tuberculosis incidence in 2013 in total (all tuberculosis manifestations) decreased from 19.6/100,000 to 18.8, while respiratory tuberculosis from 18.2 to 17.8/100,000. In 2013, a total of 1,097 HIV infections (2.85/100,000) were reported. Compared to the previous year, incidence did not change. In total, 36 malaria cases were notified who were infected abroad while visiting malaria endemic areas.