Communicable Diseases
Communicable diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in all communities. Communicable diseases are those that can be transferred from one infected person to another.
Public health action can prevent, limit and control communicable diseases, through health protection and health promotion programmes, including working with the farming and other food production interests, public education, surveillance, prevention, investigation of cases and outbreaks, and control to prevent further spread.
Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service is responsible for undertaking prevention measures to reduce the likelihood of communicable disease spread, such as the promotion of healthy environments, environmental control measures and aspects of the national immunisation programme.
What you can do?
Hand washing, when done properly, is one of the best ways to avoid contracting and spreading many infections.
Infectious diseases such as the common cold, influenza and several gastrointestinal disorders are commonly spread through hand-to-mouth contact.
Inadequate hand hygiene also contributes to food-related illnesses, such as Salmonella, E.Coli infection and Campylobacter. Link to PDF’s to come from Toi Te Ora.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water
- Dry your hands with a clean, dry towel or paper towel.
It's important to always wash your hands before handling food, but just as important to wash them after:
- Handling raw meat and poultry
- Going to the toilet
- Handling pets
- Gardening or playing outdoors.
Check out our hand washing and food handling resources below.
The ‘Glo Box’
Toi Te Ora has developed the ‘Glo Box’, which is a visual, interactive way for children to learn the importance of hand washing. Public health nurses in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes Districts visit schools with the resource.
Contact us to arrange a visit.
- The New Zealand Foodsafe Partnership
- More information about foodborne illnesses
- Print off or order hand washing resources
- Wash Your Hands/Horoia Ringaringa for use in bathrooms and restrooms.
Infectious Diseases
Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service carries out effective surveillance and investigation of notifiable infectious diseases in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes Districts.
Our role involves:
- Preparing for, assessing, and managing threats from communicable disease outbreaks
- Surveillance (receiving notifications, data entry and participation in early detection systems)
- Advising local vaccinators and immunisation coordinators on immunisation
- Participation in the training and authorisation of independent vaccinators.
You can download information below about the most common notifiable diseases in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes:
What can you do?
General public - contact your doctor immediately if you think you have contracted any of the above communicable diseases.
Health professionals - all routine disease notifications to the Medical Officer of Health at Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service are to be sent to:
Phone: 0800 221 555, select option 6
Fax: 0800 668 934
Email: toiteorasupport@bopdhb.govt.nz
For urgent after hours notifications please call 0800 221 555 and select option 7
Notification of Infectious Disease form (for fax)
Influenza
Influenza is a potentially serious viral chest infection that’s much worse than a cold. Influenza comes on suddenly with a fever or chills, sore throat, dry cough, headaches, fatigue, body aches and pains.
What to look for
Influenza is easily spread and anyone can catch it. It is passed on by droplets when people cough and sneeze and touch infected surfaces.
Health risks
You can end up in bed for up to three weeks and it can lead to pneumonia.
What can you do?
- Get the influenza vaccination from your nurse or doctor, even if you are fit and healthy.
- Cover your cough when coughing or sneezing and then wash your hands.
- Always use disposable tissues and stay at home when you are sick.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water and dry your hands with a clean dry towel or paper towel.
Free immunisation is available for those most at risk of influenza complications, including everyone aged 65 and over, and any adult or child with a chronic medical condition.
Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service carries out awareness campaigns to encourage people in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes Districts to get immunised. The Bay of Plenty and Lakes District health boards offer free immunisation for all of their health workers.
Or for more information contact your doctor or practice nurse, visit www.immune.org.nz or phone 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863)
Influenza A (H1N1)
For up-to-date national, Bay of Plenty and Lakes pandemic information and advice go here.
Rheumatic Fever
For detailed information about rheumatic fever and its prevalence in our community click here
Or Contact us for more information.
