Under-reporting of measles: an evaluation based on data from north rhine-westphalia.

Background: Eliminating measles in Europe by 2015 is a WHO health goal. In Germany, physicians are legally required to report measles cases, yet it seems likely that reporting is less than universal. The goal of this study is to compare the number of measles cases that are reflected by data from the statutory health insurance (SHI) carriers with the number of physician-reported cases during and after a recent outbreak in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

Influenza vaccination coverage in the 2004/05, 2005/06, and 2006/07 seasons: a secondary data analysis based on billing data of the German associations of statutory health insurance physicians.

Background: The German Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends annual vaccination for persons in high-risk groups in order to lower the disease burden associated with seasonal influenza. The stated target is 75% vaccination coverage of people over age 60 by the year 2010. We present statistics based on billing data of the German associations of statutory health insurance physicians regarding vaccination coverage for influenza in the three seasons from 2004/05 to 2006/07.

Varicella vaccination coverage of children under two years of age in Germany.

Background: Since July 2004, routine varicella vaccination is recommended by the German Standing Vaccination Committee in Germany. Health Insurance Funds started to cover vaccination costs at different time points between 2004 and 2006 in the Federal States. Nationwide representative data on vaccination coverage against varicella of children under two years of age are not available.

Incidence rate of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in immunocompetent children: a prospective nationwide surveillance study in Germany.

An increasing incidence in disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria is being reported. We investigated the burden of disease in immunocompetent German children in a prospective nationwide study from April 2003 to September 2005. Ninety-seven percent of children presented with lymphadenitis; median age was 2.