Current disease trends and public health reports
The Public Health Unit regularly monitors trends in acute respiratory and gastrointestinal infections among the residents living in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. Specifically, the respiratory infections of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) along with the gastrointestinal infection of norovirus. Below summarises the latest data on these infections.
Acute Respiratory Infections report - key messages for local services
March 2026
Laboratory surveillance report for Norovirus
Further information on these, other conditions, and research the Public Health Unit conducts on can be found by clicking the links below.
Notifiable diseases data for NSW and by Local Health District are available here.
In this section we post recent and annual surveillance reports for respiratory viral activity and impact in South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
Monthly Acute Respiratory Infections Report
March 2026
Key Messages for local services
- COVID-19 transmission decreased in March and remained at low levels; impact remained stable. The average positivity rate was 1.5% (-1.8%).
- Influenza transmission continued to be low with an average positivity rate of 1.3% (+0.8%). Impact on aged-care facilities and hospitals remained minimal.
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) notifications increased, and transmission is now moderate with an average positivity rate of 3.7% (+2.1%). While impact on hospitals also increased, it remained at low level.
To access the full report, please visit the SESLHD Public Health Unit SharePoint. Access to the full report is exclusive to SESLHD staff.
Annual Acute Respiratory Infection / Influenza Report
Previous reports are available on request.
Sexually Transmissible Infections in South Eastern Sydney
This report, generated every six months, documents the historical trend and the demographic characteristics of sexually transmissible infections in residents within the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, focusing on chlamydia, gonorrhoea , syphilis and mpox.
An interactive version of the report will be available on Power BI to relevant SESLHD staff. This is the static PDF version.
View current report: 2025 Report
Key points of report: Compared to 2024 , notifications of chlamydia decreased from 6136 to 5306 (-13%) , for infectious syphilis from 524 to 415 in 2025 (-21%) and for gonorrhoea from 4059 to 3869 (-5%). There were 25 cases of mpox notified in SESLHD residents in 2025 compared to 296 in 2024..
This monthly report provides the trend (i.e. epidemic curve) since 2015 of cases of norovirus detected in sentinel public and private pathology laboratories serving the NSW population.
This report, published during the summer months, monitors trends in laboratory confirmed arbovirus cases reported in residents of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and in mosquito surveillance around the eastern tidal portion of the Georges River. It provides a summary of the main arboviral infections of concern in South Eastern Sydney (Barmah Forest virus and Ross River virus) with a breakdown of locally acquired cases to provide information on the geographic distribution of the viruses. The report also includes information on mosquito surveillance in Matraville.
View current report: March 2026
Key points of report:
- No cases of Ross River virus infection or Barmah Forest virus infection in SESLHD residents were reported in March 2026
- Four cases of dengue virus infection were reported in SESLHD residents in March 2026. All infections were acquired overseas
- Mosquito numbers in SESLHD increased in March 2026 but remain extremely low.
Childhood Immunisation Coverage Report
This report, published quarterly, provides an overview of the latest childhood immunisation coverage data for children living within the boundaries of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), based on immunisation encounters for children reported by providers to the Australian Immunisation Register (formerly the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register).
View current report: Fourth quarter, 2025
Key points of report:
As at 30 December 2025:
- 92.1% of SESLHD children were considered fully vaccinated at 12 months
- 90.9% of SESLHD children were considered fully vaccinated at 2 years
- 92.1% of SESLHD children were considered fully vaccinated at 5 years
Aboriginal Childhood Immunisation Coverage Report
This report, published annually, provides an overview of the latest childhood immunisation coverage data for Aboriginal children living within the boundaries of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), based on immunisation encounters for Aboriginal children reported by providers to the Australian Immunisation Register (formerly the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register).
View current report: Annual Report for 2024
Key points of report:
Amongst Aboriginal children in SESLHD in 2024, vaccination coverage:
- Decreased to 88.5% fully vaccinated at 12 months
- Decreased to 91.3% fully vaccinated at 2 years
- Decreased to 93.6% fully vaccinated at 5 years
School Immunisation Program Coverage Report
This report, published yearly, provides an overview of the latest school immunisation coverage for students attending school-based vaccination programs within the boundaries of SESLHD, based on immunisation encounters for students reported by school immunisation nurses.
View current report: 2025
Key points of report:
In 2025:
- 73.1% of female year 7 students received HPV vaccine.
- 72.5% of male year 7 students received HPV vaccine.
- 72.2% of year 7 students received the dTpa vaccine.
- 77.2% of year 10 students received the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.
Catch-up vaccination will be offered to students in these groups who missed out on vaccination in 2025 during clinics in 2026.
Public Health Unit Research Report, 2023 (April 2024)
Public Health Unit Research Report, 2021-2022 (November 2022)
Public Health Unit Research Report, 2020-2021 (November 2021)
Public Health Unit Research Report, 2019-2020 (October 2020)
Public Health Unit Research Report, 2018-2019 (August 2019)