An error has been noted in the text in the pertussis (whooping cough) section of this report concerning 2017 data. The error was in the text only and did not affect the underlying data or any of the published figures. All publications affected are in the process of being updated.

An error has been noted in the vaccine preventable diseases summary table for 2022 measles data in this report.  This error affects this table only. Correct data and figures were reported in the surveillance update for measles. All publications affected are in the process of being updated.

Vaccine-preventable disease

As a result of measures and restrictions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic most vaccine preventable diseases under surveillance in this report showed a notable reduction from the second quarter of 2020. Case numbers for some vaccine preventable diseases have been increasing in 2023, and invasive Haemophilus influenzae case numbers are higher than those reported in recent years. This is being closely monitored.

Invasive bacterial diseases

In the first quarter of 2023, case numbers for both invasive pneumococcal disease and meningococcal disease are higher than case numbers for equivalent periods in 2021 and 2022, which were during the COVID-19 pandemic, but lower than those in the first quarter of 2019 and 2020, which were before the pandemic. However, quarter one 2023 case numbers for invasive Haemophilus influenzae are higher than for the equivalent period in the previous four years.

There were 130 invasive pneumococcal disease cases reported in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 223 cases for the same period in 2019, 149 cases in 2020, 42 cases in 2020 and 83 cases in 2021.

There were 15 meningococcal disease cases reported in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 21 in the same period of both 2019 and 2020, two in 2021 and nine in 2022.

There were 33 cases of invasive Haemophilus influenzae reported in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 23 in 2019, 25 in 2020, 4 in 2021 and 15 in 2022. This is being closely monitored.

Measles, mumps and rubella

There were no cases of measles reported in the first quarter of 2023. In 2022, there was one case of measles reported which was imported from outwith the UK and was the first case reported in Scotland since 2019.

In 2023, there were nine cases of laboratory-confirmed mumps reported in the first quarter of the year. There were seven laboratory-confirmed cases of mumps reported in 2022 and one in 2021. This is a considerable reduction from the 864 cases reported in 2020 and 784 cases reported in 2019.

There have been no reported cases of rubella in Scotland since 2017.

Pertussis

There were no cases of laboratory-confirmed pertussis in the first quarter of 2023. In 2022 and 2021, there were three and four cases of pertussis reported, respectively. This is a considerable decline from the 198 cases reported in 2020 and 746 cases reported in 2019.