Epidemic of Tularaemiain West Slovakia in 1995–1996

Overview

The activation of natural foci of tularaemia in West Slovakia during 1994–1996 led to an epidemicoutbreak in 1995–1996 – mean annual morbidity 6.2 per 10 5 population. In comparison with the meanannual morbidity rate in the preceding period (1980–1994), a more than sevenfold increase wasrecorded.Of 213 notified cases of the disease 156 cases occurred in 1995 – morbidity 8.9 per 10 5 population –being the highest morbidity recorded in this endemic region since the period of epidemic occurrencein the 60s. The highest proportion of cases (59.2%) was recorded in the districts of Nitra and NovéZámky.The activation of natural foci along with changing social conditions, caused also marked changesof some epidemiological characteristics of tularaemia in Slovakia, such as seasonal and professionaloccurrence, as well as clinical forms of the disease.The impaired epidemiological situation in the occurrence of tularaemia is pointing to the impor-tance of systematic surveillance to improve the diagnosis of the disease and ensure effectivepreventive measures.

Key words:
tularaemia – epidemic – Slovakia – changes of epidemiological characteristics.