Introduction

The 4th Health Surveillance Bulletin (BVS) of 2012 addresses the topic of vaccine-preventable diseases from the list of Notifiable Diseases (MDO). Previous thematic BVS bulletins addressed tuberculosis (No. 10-PC, March 2012), Legionnaires’ disease (No. 11-PC, April 2012), and foodborne infections and zoonoses (No. 12-PC, May 2012). This bulletin presents surveillance data on cases of measles, invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), tetanus, diphtheria, and polio. The analysis focuses on cases reported to the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and transmitted to the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance.

The mandatory reporting of measles, IIM, tetanus, diphtheria, and polio makes it possible to analyze and track the trends of these diseases within the population in order to better target local and national prevention efforts, including the vaccination program. Surveillance of measles and invasive meningococcal infections makes it possible, in particular, to detect epidemic situations and describe the annual trend of the disease. Reporting of diphtheria enables the implementation of measures to prevent the occurrence of secondary cases among the patient’s contacts. In the case of poliomyelitis, the goal is the eradication of the disease. Thus, any clinical suspicion and any laboratory isolation of a poliovirus must be reported.

A distinctive feature of these infectious diseases is that they can be prevented through better adherence to the vaccination schedule. The vaccination schedules included in this BVS are based on the 2012 vaccination calendar and recommendations, as advised by the High Council for Public Health.