A surveillance system based on daily reporting has been set up throughout Belgium in order to detect and investigate infectious events that require immediate action. The list of priorities drawn up during preparatory meetings includes legionellosis, foodborne diseases, measles, pertussis, diphtheria, meningococcal meningitis, and rare imported diseases. Information is being exchanged with Dutch medical authorities. Handysides S. Medical care at special events. Coulombier D. Surveillance for the World Cup, France, 1998.
Cases continue to be identified through a process of active case ascertainment.
The earlier case, from whom an uncharacterised Clostridium species was isolated from tissue, was admitted to hospital on 25 February 2000. The second case is being investigated microbiologically, but positive identification is unlikely given the age of specimens. Using the local, as opposed to the international case definition, the total number of definite cases is now 19, and there are 29 probable cases. Eleven cases meet the local probable case definition, characterised by severe unexplained illness in an IDU who is admitted to hospital with extensive local inflammation with induration at the injection site. The 11 probable cases are all alive and recovering, four in hospital.