Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases
| Chikungunya | Dengue | Leprosy | Rabies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 113 | 1713 | 13 | 0 |
| 2016 | 114 | 2238 | 21 | 0 |
| 2017 | 99 | 1135 | 10 | 0 |
| 2018 | 41 | 932 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 85 | 1465 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 32 | 222 | 6 | 0 |
Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases - Trachoma
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 8881 |
| 2016 | 11671 |
| 2017 | 9297 |
| 2018 | 6576 |
| 2019 | 4419 |
Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases - Trachoma National Metadata
This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Australia closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from Australian statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Australia-specific metadata information.
The WHO have identified 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), both communicable and non-communicable, that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries.
The NTD portfolio currently includes:
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Of the currently noted NTDs, only chikungunya, dengue, leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and rabies are nationally notifiable in Australia.
Data on NTDs in Australia:
Chikungunya
Chikungunya is not currently endemic in Australia. There have been no reported cases of locally-acquired chikungunya in Australia, though mosquitoes capable of spreading the virus are present in some areas of Queensland. From 2013 to 2019, the number of notified chikungunya cases in Australia has ranged between 41 and 134 annually, with a mean of 98 cases (Table 1).
Between 2013 and 2019, notified Chikungunya infections in Australia were most frequently acquired in areas of South and South East Asia, particularly India and Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. Trends in overseas acquisition are influenced by the volume and frequency of travel to source countries and their local chikungunya epidemiology.
Dengue
Dengue is not currently endemic in Australia, but outbreaks associated with locally acquired cases do occur in coastal areas of mainland North Queensland, where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is present in suitable environments near susceptible populations. The number of notified dengue cases in Australia from 2013 to 2019 have ranged between 932 and 2238 annually, with a mean of 1,576 cases (Table 1).
In Australia, overseas-acquired dengue infections are most frequently acquired in South East Asia, particularly Indonesia. Trends in overseas acquisition are influenced by the volume and frequency of travel to source countries and their local dengue epidemiology. On average, over 90% of dengue cases reported annually in Australia are overseas acquired.
Leprosy
Leprosy is an uncommon disease in Australia with the majority of cases being diagnosed in migrants from leprosy endemic countries and occasionally in local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
In 2019, a total of 10 cases of leprosy were notified (Table 1), representing a rate of less than 0.1 case per 100,000 population. Between 2013 and 2019, annual notifications of leprosy in Australia have ranged from 6 to 21 cases per year (Table 1).
Rabies
Australia is considered to be free of rabies with the last overseas-acquired case being reported in 1987.
Trachoma
Australia is a signatory to the World Health Organization (WHO) Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020. Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined by the WHO as ‘community prevalence of trachoma in children aged 1-9 years of less than 5%’.
As part of its WHO obligation to eliminate trachoma by 2020, Australia is required to regularly collect data on trachoma prevalence. The National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit, managed by the Kirby Institute, University of NSW, provides surveillance and annual reporting of trachoma prevalence, using State and Territory Governments’ data.
Trachoma program activities, data collection and analysis are guided by the National Guidelines for the Public Health Management of Trachoma in Australia (revised in 2013 and published in 2014 – see link). The below information should be read in conjunction with the Guidelines.
In 2018, 120 communities were identified as being ‘at-risk’ of trachoma. A total of 6576 people received antibiotic (azithromycin) treatment for trachoma (including people diagnosed with trachoma, their household contacts and community members as required by the Guidelines). This is fewer doses of azithromycin delivered in 2018 as compared to 2017 (6576 compared to 9297).
Strong progress has been made in reducing the overall trachoma prevalence rate from 14% in 2009 to 3.9% in 2018.
Further information can be found at:
Australian Trachoma Surveillance Reports
Guidelines for the public health management of trachoma in Australia
Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases
Number of notifications
Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
*The data provided were extracted from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System on 12 February 2020. Due to the dynamic nature of the NNDSS, data in this extract are subject to retrospective revision and may vary from data reported in published NNDSS reports and reports of notification data by states and territories.
Global Metadata
This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.
Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases
Sources
The Department of Health - National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
The data provided were extracted from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System on 12 February 2020. Due to the dynamic nature of the NNDSS, data in this extract are subject to retrospective revision and may vary from data reported in published NNDSS reports and reports of notification data by states and territories.
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales
Notes:
Number of people that received trachoma intervention: Azithromycin antibiotic treatment to cases and household contacts/community members.
Trachoma Management Guidelines were revised in 2013 to recommend more intensive treatment intervention.
Other
No other information for this indicator
Historic
No historic information for this indicator
