Glossary

Active monitoring (see also passive monitoring)

A case or contact is regularly contacted by a public health service to monitor symptoms, wellbeing and compliance with any restrictions, quarantine or isolation requirements.

Monitoring of cases generally continues for the duration of their isolation period.

Monitoring of contacts generally continues until the end of the known incubation period for that infection or until the person develops symptoms and becomes a case.

Generally used for diseases with high transmissibility, disease severity or public health risk.

Airborne transmission (or spread)

(see also mode of transmission)

The spread of infectious agents through tiny aerosolised particles that remain suspended in the air for extended periods and can be inhaled and cause infection in a susceptible person, even at a distance from the source case.

Does not include droplets or other large particles that promptly settle out of the air (refer to droplet transmission).

Aotearoa

North Island — now used as the Māori name for New Zealand.

At-risk and priority populations

The classification of subsets or groups of people that are known or identified to be at higher risk of infection or severe outcomes for a particular disease and require prioritisation or tailored approaches for clinical or public health action.

Factors to determine whether a group is a priority or at-risk group may include demographic risk factors (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, social determinants of health), medical risk factors (e.g. existing comorbidities, immune compromise) or environmental and occupational risk factors (e.g. likelihood of exposure due to recreational or occupational activities).

For more information on priority populations and achieving equity in communicable disease management refer to the Equity chapter.

Case

A person who meets the case definition for a specific disease.

Case classification

The various ways in which a person meets a case definition.

Depending on the disease, a person may be classified as a suspected, probable or confirmed case.

If evidence is insufficient or indicates that a person has not met any of the classifications, they will be deemed not a case.

Case definition

A set of criteria used to define a disease for the purpose of public health surveillance or public health action. A case definition may include a combination of clinical, laboratory and epidemiological criteria.

Note: a case definition is not used to make a clinical diagnosis of a disease.

Chemoprophylaxis (see also prophylaxis)

The administration of medication, either before or after potential exposure to an infectious agent to prevent or reduce infection or severity of disease, or to eliminate carriage to prevent transmission and disease in others.

Cluster (see also outbreak)

A number of infectious disease cases occurring closer together in time and/or space than expected, indicating a potential link.

Contact

A person who meets the contact definition for a specific disease.

Defined generally as a person or animal that has been in association with an infected person or animal or a contaminated environment and so has had an opportunity to acquire the infection.

Note that for the avian influenza chapter, the term ‘exposed person’ has been used to refer to human contacts of animals with the disease.

Contact classification

A contact may be categorised by the level of their exposure to a case and/or risk of infection (e.g. close contacts versus casual contacts), type of exposure (e.g. household contact versus sexual contact) or potential for onward transmission (e.g. healthcare worker contacts).

Contact definition

A set of criteria used to determine whether someone is considered a contact of a case for the purpose of determining appropriate public health action.

Contact transmission (see also mode of transmission)

The spread of an infectious disease through direct contact with an infected person (e.g. biting, touching, kissing or sexual contact), or indirect contact with an infectious agent (e.g. via soil, contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), insects (vectors) or animals).

Direct laboratory notification (DLN)

A notification directly from laboratories to a medical officer of health with positive test results of notifiable disease. This is required under the Health Amendment Act (2006).

Droplet transmission (or spread)

(see also mode of transmission)

The spread of infection occurring through respiratory droplets (expelled when a case coughs, sneezes, or talks) coming into contact with the mouth, nose, or eyes of a susceptible person. A type of direct transmission.

Endemic

The constant or usual presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographic area or a population group.

Environmental evaluation

An investigation of the surroundings external to human hosts of illness, with the aim of identifying actual or potential vehicles of transmission and how processes in place failed to prevent human exposure to disease.

Epidemic (see also outbreak)

The occurrence of cases of a disease in a large community, population, or region that is clearly in excess of what is normally expected over a period of time.

EpiSurv (see also Notifiable Disease Management System)

The current national notifiable disease database. This will progressively be replaced by the National Disease Management System (NDMS).

Exclusion (see also restriction)

A public health requirement for a person to stay away from certain settings for a defined period to prevent the spread of infection.

These settings may be places with a higher risk of transmission or where people are more vulnerable to severe illness due to the type of contact that occurs there. Examples include workplaces, schools, early childhood education centres, healthcare facilities, and aged residential care facilities.

Exposed person

Used in the avian influenza chapter to describe a human contact that has been exposed to an animal with the disease.

Exposure

Proximity and/or contact with a potential source of infection in such a manner that effective transmission of the infectious agent may occur.

Exposure event

Setting or event where people were exposed to an infectious disease (e.g. early childhood education centre, aged residential care facility, social gathering, air flight).

Fomite (see also mode of transmission)

A contaminated inanimate object or surface that can transmit infectious agents to a susceptible host. Examples include frequently touched objects (e.g. clothing, eating utensils, surgical equipment, door handles, phones) and surfaces.

Gay, bisexual, takatāpui and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)

Gay, bisexual, takatāpui and other men who have sex with men. This definition incorporates both elements of sexual identity (gay, bisexual, takatāpui), gender identity (cis or transgender men, or non-binary people) and behaviour (engaging in sexual behaviour with another man).

May also be described in the Communicable Disease Control Manual as men who have sex with men (MSM).

Hāpori

Section of a kinship group, family, society, community.

Hapū

Kinship group, clan, tribe, subtribe — section of a large kinship group and the primary political unit in traditional Māori society.

Immunisation (see also vaccination)

Immunisation is the process of developing increased immunity to specific infectious diseases after receiving a vaccine. It protects individuals against disease and reduces the onward spread of disease within the population.

Immune

A state in which a person has sufficient biological defences to prevent disease when exposed to a specific infectious agent.

A person may become immune though active immunity (i.e. previous infection or vaccination) or passive immunity (i.e. maternal antibodies or immunoglobulin therapy).

Immunocompromised

An impaired immune system (due to infection, illness, medical treatment, or congenital immune deficiency) that increases susceptibility to acquiring infection, more severe illness, and a prolonged infectious period.

Incubation period

The period of time between exposure to an infectious agent and the onset of signs and symptoms.

Incursion

The introduction and detection of an infectious agent, vector, or disease into a country, region, or population where it was not previously endemic (e.g. exotic mosquitoes, avian influenza, dengue).

Infection

The presence and multiplication of infectious agents (i.e. bacteria, viruses, parasites, prions or fungi) in the body. Not all infections progress to clinical disease.

Infection prevention and control (IPC)

Refers to evidence-based practices and procedures to prevent or reduce the risk of transmitting infections in both healthcare and community settings.

Infectious period        

The duration of time during which a person can transmit an infectious agent to others.

International Health Regultions (IHR)

The International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) are a set of legally binding rules established by the World Health Organization (WHO) that aim to prevent and respond to the spread of diseases across borders. They require countries, including New Zealand, to report certain public health events and to strengthen their capacity to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health risks that could spread internationally. The IHR are crucial for global health security, ensuring that countries collaborate to minimise the risk of international disease outbreaks.

Isolation

The separation of confirmed or suspected cases during their infectious period from those who are not infected, to limit transmission of infection to others. This means the individual must not leave their isolation location, including going to work or school.

Isolation period         

The time period that a case is required to isolate to prevent the spread of infection.

Iwi

Extended kinship group, tribe, nation, people, nationality, race — often refers to a large group of people descended from a common ancestor and associated with a distinct territory.

Kaitiakitanga

Guardianship, stewardship, trusteeship, trustee.

Karakia

To recite ritual chants, say grace, pray, recite a prayer, chant.

Kaumātua

Adult, elder, elderly man, elderly woman, old man — a person of status within the whānau.

Mana

Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma.

Manaakitanga

To support, take care of, give hospitality to, protect, look out for — show respect, generosity and care for others.

Māori

Indigenous people of New Zealand; to be Māori; apply in a Māori way.

Mātauranga

Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, skill — sometimes used in the plural.

Medical officer of health

Public health medicine specialist appointed by the Director General of Health, with powers and duties defined in legislation, primarily the Health Act 1956.

Mode of transmission

The mechanism by which an infectious agent spreads from a source or reservoir to a person.

Mechanisms include:

• direct transmission — via direct contact, droplet spread or vertical (trans-placental) transmission
• indirect transmission — via a vehicle (fomites) or a vector (typically mosquitoes, ticks or other arthropods)
• airborne transmission — via microbial aerosols, dust or droplet nuclei that are suspended in the air.

Monitoring (see also active monitoring and passive monitoring)

A process to monitor disease symptoms and ensure the health and welfare needs of cases and contacts are met, and ensure compliance with isolation, quarantine or restrictions for a defined period.

Monitoring of cases generally continues for the duration of their isolation period. Hospitalised cases usually do not require public health monitoring.

Monitoring of contacts generally continues until the person develops symptoms of the infection and becomes a case, or until the case is released from quarantine or restrictions, or the end of the incubation period for that disease.

Monitoring may be active (conducted by the public health service) or passive (conducted by the individual). 

National Focal Point (NFP)

The designated national office responsible for 24/7 communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) and with relevant agencies within Aotearoa New Zealand on matters related to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). Every country is required to have an NFP.

New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science)

A New Zealand Crown Research Institute that delivers scientific and research services to the public health, food safety, security and justice systems, and the environmental sector. Its purpose is to improve the safety of, and contribute to the economic, environmental and social well-being of people and communities in New Zealand.

PHF Science was formerly known as the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).

Notifiable Disease Management System (NDMS) (see also EpiSurv)

An operational information technology system for the notification, management, and surveillance of notifiable diseases and hazard exposures in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Notifiable infectious disease 

Notifiable infectious diseases are a subset of infectious diseases that must be notified to a medical officer of health.

These diseases are listed the Health Act 1956 Schedules 1 and 2.

Notification

The requirement of health practitioners and medical laboratories to officially report (notify) a medical officer of health about cases of notifiable diseases.

Different diseases are required to be notified on suspicion or once confirmed.

Required under the Health Act 1956 (Section 74); these diseases are listed in Schedule 1 (infectious diseases) and Schedule 2 (non-infectious diseases).

One Health

One Health is an integrated cross-sectoral approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise human, animal and environmental health.

Oranga

Survivor, food, livelihood, welfare, health, living.

Outbreak (see also cluster and epidemic)

A local increase in the occurrence of a disease in an institution, population or community that is clearly in excess of what is normally expected over a period of time.

Outbreak control/management

Activities undertaken to investigate and respond to an outbreak (includes outbreak identification, investigation and response).

Outbreak definition

The criteria used to determine when an outbreak or a specific disease is occurring, which may include a defined period or an identified exposure event.

The outbreak definition is based on disease epidemiology and public health risk.

Outbreak investigation

Activities undertaken to establish the existence of an outbreak, describe the outbreak, and to identify the source, transmission mechanism and contributory factors, as a basis for outbreak response.

Outbreak response

Activities undertaken to prevent further transmission of disease, communicate effectively and to document the outbreak.

Pae Ora

Healthy Futures.

Pākehā

English, foreign, European, exotic — introduced from or originating in a foreign country.

Pandemic (see also epidemic)

An epidemic of an infectious disease that spreads through human populations across a large region (e.g. multiple continents or even worldwide).

Passive monitoring (see also active monitoring)

A case or contact is advised by the public health service team to self-monitor for symptoms and wellbeing, and comply with any restrictions, quarantine or isolation requirements.

Generally used for diseases with low transmissibility, severity or public health risk.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

A type of barrier protection in the form of specialised clothing or equipment (e.g. gloves, masks, gowns, eye protection) used by a person to prevent direct contact with potentially infectious material (e.g. infectious agents, medical equipment, or bodily fluids) and transmission.

The appropriate level of PPE depends on mode of transmission (contact, droplet, airborne) and the risk of exposure during specific tasks.

Pharmac

A government agency that decides which medicines and related products are funded in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)         

A laboratory technique that amplifies deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (or ribonucleic acid [RNA] via reverse transcription) to detect pathogens (e.g. bacteria or viruses) in a sample (e.g. blood, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, pus, tissue).

Generally considered the gold standard for sensitivity and specificity and is the most common subset of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT).

Prophylaxis

Preventative medical treatment provided to people to reduce the incidence of disease.

May be administered in the form of:

• chemoprophylaxis: the use of medication (e.g. antibiotics, antivirals, antiparasitics) to prevent infection or disease
• immunoprophylaxis: use of antibodies (e.g. immunoglobulin) or vaccines to prevent disease.

Prophylaxis may be administered prior to or after exposure to the infectious agent:

• pre-exposure prophylaxis: any preventive medical treatment used before exposure to an infectious agent to prevent or reduce the risk of infection
• post-exposure prophylaxis: preventive medical treatment given after exposure to a pathogen to prevent or reduce the risk of infection or disease severity. For some infections, post-exposure prophylaxis may also be used to eradicate carriage and prevent onward transmission.

Public health service

There are 4 regional public health services across Aotearoa New Zealand forming the National Public Health Service (NPHS). Their purpose is to improve, promote and protect the health of the communities in their districts.

Public health surveillance

The systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data on an ongoing basis, to gain knowledge of the pattern of disease occurrence and potential in a community, to control and prevent disease in the community.

Quarantinable infectious disease          

A disease listed in the Health Act 1956 Schedule 1 Part 3 Quarantinable infectious diseases.

Quarantine (see also restrictions and isolation)

 Requirement for a contact of a case to stay at home and minimise contact with those in their own household. This includes staying away from work or school.

Quarantine continues until the contact is confirmed to be a case (when they would be required to isolate until no longer infectious) or they are no longer considered at risk of developing the disease.

Generally used for diseases with high transmissibility, disease severity or public health risk.

Rainbow communities        

A broad umbrella term encompassing individuals who identify with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions, and variations of sex characteristics.

Rangatira

To be of high rank, become of high rank, ennobled, rich, well off, noble, esteemed, revered.

Reservoir (of infectious agents)

Any person, animal, arthropod, soil or substance (or a combination of these) in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies, on which it depends primarily for survival, or where it reproduces in such a manner that it can be transmitted to a susceptible host.

Restriction (see also exclusion and quarantine)

Requirement to limit a case or contact’s activities or movements, while not completely excluding them, to reduce the risk of transmitting an infectious disease (e.g. restricting food handlers with certain infections from high-risk duties).

Ring vaccination

An outbreak control strategy that focusses vaccination activities on susceptible people in defined rings around a case and their contacts. It aims to prevent future waves of an outbreak by interrupting the chain of transmission from the index case and their primary contacts to the wider community.

Risk factor (of infection)

An aspect of personal behaviour or lifestyle, an environmental exposure, or an inborn or inherited characteristic that is associated with an increased occurrence of disease or other health-related event or condition.

A characteristic, behaviour, or condition that increases a person’s likelihood of acquiring, transmitting, or experiencing severe outcomes from exposure to an infectious agent.

Routine prevention

Population health measures that are routinely undertaken to prevent disease (e.g. immunisation, screening, and health promotion).

Sample

Biological material collected for diagnostic purposes (e.g. blood, urine, faeces, tissue, fluid, saliva).

Serology

The measurement of antibodies and other immunological properties present in blood serum, used to diagnose infections and assess immune status.

Specimen (see also sample)

The term sample is generally used rather than specimen in the Communicable Disease Control Manual, except in chapters where specimen is used for consistency with terminology used in other guidelines (or chapters pending review).

Susceptible

A person at risk of developing a disease because they lack immunity to that particular infectious agent (either from previous infection, vaccination or passive immunity). 

May also be known as ‘non-immune’.

Taiao

World, Earth, natural world, environment, nature, country.

Tangata

People, men, persons, human beings.

Taonga

Treasure, anything prized — applied to anything considered to be of value including socially or culturally valuable objects, resources, phenomena, ideas and techniques.

Tapu

Be sacred, prohibited, restricted, set apart, forbidden, under atua protection.

Te ao Māori

The Māori world.

Te reo Māori

The Māori language.

Tikanga

Correct procedure, custom, habit, lore, method, manner, rule, way, code, meaning, plan, practice, convention, protocol — the customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context.

Tohunga

Skilled person, chosen expert, priest, healer — a person chosen by the agent of an atua and the tribe as a leader in a particular field because of signs indicating talent for a particular vocation.

Tūpuna

Ancestors, grandparents.

Vaccination (see also immunisation)

Vaccination is the process of administering a vaccine to stimulate the immune system to build immunity to a specific disease and reduce the risk of infection and/or serious illness.

Vector

An organism (typically an arthropod) that transmits an infectious agent from one host to another.

Wairuatanga

Spirituality.

Whakapapa

To place in layers, lie flat, give history.

Whakataukī

Proverb, significant saying, formulaic saying, cryptic saying, aphorism where the author is unknown.

Whānau

Extended family, family group, a familiar term of address to a number of people — the primary economic unit of traditional Māori society. In the modern context the term is sometimes used to include friends who may not have any kinship ties to other members.

Whenua

Land, placenta, afterbirth.

Zoonotic disease / Zoonosis

An infection or infectious disease that is naturally transmissible between vertebrate animals and humans (e.g. leptospirosis, mpox, avian influenza, rabies).