Abstract

Salmonella is the most common bacterial cause of gastrointestinal disease notifiable in New South Wales. The objectives for Salmonella surveillance as listed in the NSW Notifiable Diseases Manual are: to identify the source of infection and to prevent further cases; and to monitor the epidemiology to inform the development of better prevention strategies. This article reviews the process of Salmonella surveillance in NSW. The system is described and an evaluation of selected attributes including system simplicity, data completeness and timeliness of notification is presented. This study was conducted as part of a review of foodborne disease surveillance in NSW for the period 1998–2000 by members of OzFoodNet based at the Hunter Public Health Unit. OzFoodNet is a national network established by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing in 2000 to enhance foodborne disease surveillance in Australia.