Gastrointestinal diseases are an important cause of illness in Australia.
In addition, only a small proportion of cases come to the attention of physicians, and diagnostic tests to establish an aetiology are only used in a small proportion of these. There were no cases of botulism reported in 1997. There were 11,848 cases of campylobacteriosis reported in 1997, a 2.5 per cent decrease from the number reported for 1996. In New South Wales, campylobacteriosis was only notifiable as 'foodborne disease in two or more related cases' or 'gastroenteritis in an institution' and therefore was not included for this State. Campylobacteriosis was reported from all jurisdictions where it was notifiable.