[Integrated bulletin for the automated surveillance of notifiable communicable diseases in Schleswig-Holstein (IBISSH). A spatiotemporal early warning system].

The program package "Integrated Bulletin for Infectious disease Surveillance for Schleswig-Holstein" (IBIS(SH)) was introduced in 2008 for the automated data analysis of notifiable infectious diseases in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The Java-based IBIS(SH) software supports access to the national SurvNet@RKI reporting data via Access and MS SQL. The aim of the IBIS(SH) system is early warning and interpretation of clusters and monitoring of trends.

Viral hepatitis in Germany: poor vaccination coverage and little knowledge about transmission in target groups.

Background: In Germany, vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for infants, children and adolescents since 1995 and for specific target groups since 1982. Little is known about knowledge about viral hepatitis and attitudes toward hepatitis B vaccination-factors likely to influence vaccine uptake.

Methods: In order to estimate vaccination coverage in adult target groups and in the overall adult population and to assess knowledge and attitudes, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional telephone survey among 412 persons in November 2004.

Influenza vaccination coverage in adults belonging to defined target groups, Germany, 2003/2004.

In 2003, a nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the current influenza vaccination coverage of the adult population of Germany, especially in persons belonging to defined target groups. Of 666 surveyed persons, 190 (adjusted 24%) had received influenza vaccination and 419 participants belonged to at least one target group. Of those, 28% (95% confidence interval (CI) 22-35%) in former West Germany and 45% (95% CI 38-52%) in former East Germany had received influenza vaccination.

Consumption, knowledge, and handling of raw meat: a representative cross-sectional survey in Germany, March 2001.

Outbreaks of gastroenteritis have been repeatedly associated with the consumption of raw meat and raw meat products. To assess the potential of this problem in Germany, frequency of consumption and knowledge about and handling of raw meat during food preparation in the German population was estimated. We conducted a population-based nationwide cross-sectional survey in private households in March 2001 by random telephone numbers.

Cross-sectional study on influenza vaccination, Germany, 1999-2000.

To assess influenza vaccination coverage in Germany, we conducted a nationwide telephone survey in November 1999 in adults (>18 yrs) using random-digit dialing. Overall, 23% of 1,190 survey participants reported having been vaccinated (adjusted 18%) with 16% (adjusted 15%) in former West Germany versus 35% (adjusted 32%) in former East Germany. Immunization rates for vaccination target groups were lower in West Germany (21%) than in East Germany (40%).