The edition of national case definitions for all notifiable infectious diseases was introduced in Germany in 2001, following the implementation of a new law to control infectious diseases (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG) [12] [13] [14] . The IfSG determines the set of diseases and pathogens to be notified by physicians and laboratories throughout the Federal Republic of Germany. The five eastern states, which formerly belonged to the Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany) and the State of Berlin have enacted complementary rules that make certain diseases additionally notifiable within the state jurisdiction, that are not notifiable in all of Germany.