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 increased in 2023. Invasive Haemophilus influenzae case numbers were higher than those reported in recent years, and there has been an increase in pertussis cases from late 2023.

Invasive bacterial diseases

Case numbers for invasive pneumococcal disease in 2023 were higher than case numbers for 2022, 2021 and 2020, but lower than those for 2019, which is the last full pre-COVID-19 pandemic year for which data are presented. Case numbers for meningococcal disease in 2023 were higher than those for 2022, 2021 and 2020, but lower than 2019. Case numbers for invasive Haemophilus influenzae in 2023 were higher than those for the previous four years. 

There were 462 invasive pneumococcal disease cases reported in 2023, compared with 374 in 2022, 286 in 2021, 274 in 2020 and 621 in 2019.  

There were 52 cases of meningococcal disease reported in 2023, compared with 29 in 2022, 17 in 2021, 33 in 2020 and 59 in 2019.

Measles, mumps and rubella

There was one case of laboratory-confirmed measles reported in 2023, in the last quarter of the year. This case was acquired outwith Scotland. Prior to this, the last laboratory-confirmed case, the first since 2019, was a single case in 2022 which was imported from outside the UK.  

There were 16 cases of laboratory-confirmed mumps reported in 2023. 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

An increase in laboratory-confirmed pertussis cases was observed in late 2023. Of the 73 cases reported in 2023, the majority (n=56) were reported in the final quarter of the year. For comparison, 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.