New Zealand: Chlamydia Eyed for Hit List

As part of a major review of New Zealand's Health Act, health officials hope to reclassify chlamydia, one of the country's most common STDs, as a notifiable infection. If they succeed, people diagnosed with chlamydia would, by law, have to identify recent partners who would be contacted, and doctors would have to report every case of the disease to the medical officer of health. Health clinics currently trace chlamydia contacts only with the patient's informed consent.

Dr. Doug Lush, the Ministry of Health's senior adviser on communicable diseases, said chlamydia cases are rising. Making the infection notifiable would provide detailed information to help the ministry launch appropriate education and control programs.

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research reported that New Zealand's chlamydia rates are five times higher than the rates in Britain, Canada and Australia. Cases jumped from 2,870 in 2000 to 3,238 in 2001.

Northland has launched a pilot program involving general practitioners to determine the costs of such an effort. Dr. Jonathan Jarman, Northland's medical officer of health, said, "The disease is running away on us." He noted that making it notifiable would allow nurses to get in early and "hit it hard."

But Dr. Phil Shoemack, the Bay of Plenty's medical officer of health, expressed reservations about making chlamydia notifiable. He said people might avoid treatment, especially if they were having a relationship "on the side."

Dr. Tricia Briscoe, chair of the general practitioners council of the Medical Association, said she supports the reclassification only if more funding accompanies it, because it would mean more work for GPs.

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