Varicella is an acute and highly contagious disease produced by the varicella-zoster virus, which leaves lasting immunity. Herpes zoster is produced by reactivation of a latent infection of the same virus. The introduction of systematic and free vaccination against varicella in children of 15 months in Navarre from 2007 onwards can be expected to produce important epidemiological changes. For this reason we describe the previous epidemiological situation in the period from 2005 to 2006. We analysed all cases of varicella and herpes zoster registered in the electronic clinical files of primary care, in the database of hospital discharges and in the mortality register. Between 2005 and 2006, 9,908 cases of varicella were diagnosed (8.29 annually per 1,000 inhabitants), with 90% in children under 15 years old. There were 80 hospital admissions (8 for every 1,000 cases), complications in 2.5 out of every 1,000 cases, and there was one death due to this cause (0.1 per 1,000 cases). In the same period, 4,959 cases of herpes zoster were diagnosed (4.15 cases per 1,000 inhabitants), half in people over 55 years old. There were 179 hospital admissions (36 per 1,000 cases), whose average age was 77, and 83 presented complications (16.7 per 1,000 cases). This epidemiological pattern is similar to that found in other places before the introduction of the vaccine.

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Epidemiological vigilance in Navarre covers 34 transmissible diseases, whose notification is compulsory, and epidemic outbreaks of any aetiology. Notification is carried out on a weekly basis by the doctors from paediatrics, primary and specialised level who suspect or diagnose any of these diseases. In 2003, 75.0% of all the possible notification reports (a weekly report for each doctor) were received, a percentage that has improved in the last five year period. In 2003, Influenza reached a rate of 48.9 cases per 1,000 inhabitants (Epidemic Index, EI: 0.91), showing an epidemic peak in January and another in November. The rate of respiratory tuberculosis was 11.76 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and the rate of non-respiratory tuberculosis was 1.90, with a continuous trend to decrease in both cases. Five cases of tuberculosis occurred in two small family outbreaks. Thirty percent of the cases were produced in immigrants. The cases coinfected with HIV have fallen from 21% in 1996 to 2.5% in 2003. Fifteen cases of meningococcal disease were reported, (2.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), appearing in a sporadic form. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B was isolated in 10 cases, and serogroup C in 5 cases. Eighty percent appeared in the form of sepsis, and death occurred in one case (6.7%). All of the cases younger than six years of age were vaccinated and belonged to serogroup B. The incidence of Legionnaire's disease was 3.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (EI: 0.92), without any epidemiological relation between them. There were 7 cases of malaria, all imported. The incidence of food borne infections has fallen (EI: 0.71).

Epidemiological vigilance in Navarre (601,874 inhabitants) in 2006 included 34 diseases whose notification is compulsory and epidemic outbreaks. Notification is carried out on a weekly basis by the doctors from paediatrics, primary care and specialised care facing any suspicion of these processes, and is completed with microbiological diagnoses. In 2006 the incidence of influenza reached 16.8 cases per 1,000 inhabitants (Epidemic Index, EI: 0.46), showing a late seasonal peak (March) of low dimensions. The incidence of respiratory tuberculosis was 11.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and that of non-respiratory tuberculosis was 2.3; both at similar levels to recent years. Seven cases of tuberculosis occurred in three aggregates amongst cohabitants, and another 7 in non-cohabiting persons resident in the same municipality. Six percent of the cases were coinfected with HIV, and 37% occurred in immigrants. The incidence of meningococcal disease rose to 19 cases (3.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants; EI 1.46), all of them sporadic. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B was isolated in 16 cases. There was one case of serogroup C, in a child who had received 3 doses of combined vaccine. In two cases (11%) death occurred. The incidence of legionnaire's disease rose to 28 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (EI:4.88), due to a community outbreak that affected 146 people. Excluding this outbreak, incidence was similar to previous years (3.3 per 100,000 inhabitants). In August an outbreak of parotitis began, and 911 cases had been counted until the end of 2006; and it has continued during 2007. Eleven cases of malaria were registered, all imported. Notifications of toxic food infections has continued to fall (IE:0.48).