The classification used by PHF Science matches the notifiable disease schedule and may differ to that used elsewhere for disease reporting.
Inclusions
Please note only acute cases of Hepatitis B and C are notifiable.
Exclusions
Notifiable disease data collected and reported by agencies other than PHF Science is not presented in this dataset i.e., acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other spongiform encephalopathies, lead absorption equal to or in excess of 0.48 µmol/L, and poisoning arising from chemical contamination of the environment.
Not every case of acute gastroenteritis is necessarily notifiable, only those where there is a suspected common source or from a person in a high risk category (for example, a food handler, an early childhood service worker) or single cases of chemical, bacterial, or toxic food poisoning such as botulism or toxic shellfish poisoning.
Changes to data collection/processing
The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has changed its name to the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) as of 1 July 2025.
Invasive group A streptococcal infection became notifiable on 1 October 2024.
The latest release of the annual summary tables (tier 1 statistics) for notifiable diseases includes all notifiable diseases collected and reported by the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science).
Purpose of collection
The main purpose of surveillance is to provide information for action. Information provided by regular surveillance reports enables effective monitoring of rates and distribution of disease, detection of outbreaks, monitoring of interventions, and predicting emerging hazards.