TY - JOUR
T1 - Viral encephalitis in England, 1989-1998
T2 - What did we miss?
AU - Davison, Katy L.
AU - Crowcroft, Natasha S.
AU - Ramsay, Mary E.
AU - Brown, David W.G.
AU - Andrews, Nick J.
PY - 2003/2/1
Y1 - 2003/2/1
N2 - We analyzed hospitalizations in England from April 1, 1989, to March 31, 1998, and identified approximately 700 cases, 46 fatal, from viral encephalitis that occurred during each year; most (60%) were of00 unknown etiology. Of cases with a diagnosis, the largest propor0tion was herpes simplex encephalitis. Using normal and Poisson regression, we identified six possible clusters of unknown etiology. Over 75% of hospitalizations are not reported through the routine laboratory and clinical notification systems, resulting in underdiagnosis of viral encephalitis in England. Current surveillance greatly underascertains incidence of the disease and existence of clusters; in general, outbreaks are undetected. Surveillance systems must be adapted to detect major changes in epidemiology so that timely control measures can be implemented.
AB - We analyzed hospitalizations in England from April 1, 1989, to March 31, 1998, and identified approximately 700 cases, 46 fatal, from viral encephalitis that occurred during each year; most (60%) were of00 unknown etiology. Of cases with a diagnosis, the largest propor0tion was herpes simplex encephalitis. Using normal and Poisson regression, we identified six possible clusters of unknown etiology. Over 75% of hospitalizations are not reported through the routine laboratory and clinical notification systems, resulting in underdiagnosis of viral encephalitis in England. Current surveillance greatly underascertains incidence of the disease and existence of clusters; in general, outbreaks are undetected. Surveillance systems must be adapted to detect major changes in epidemiology so that timely control measures can be implemented.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037329816&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3201/eid0902.020218
DO - 10.3201/eid0902.020218
M3 - Article
C2 - 12603996
AN - SCOPUS:0037329816
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 9
SP - 234
EP - 240
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases
IS - 2
ER -
