Microbial Pathogenesis & Infectious Diseases

Food Borne & Water Borne Infections

The incidence of food and waterborne diseases has increased sharply in current years, partly due to increased international travel and import of food. Many diseases are possibly not registered, such as from contaminated water and infection with norovirus (“stomach flu”). Several infectious food and waterborne diseases are notifiable to the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS) (NIPH, 2016b). In addition, outbreaks are monitored by the NIPH’s rapid alert system, Vesuv. An outbreak is defined as more cases of disease than expected with a suspected common source of infection. Outbreaks related to food and water should be reported immediately (NIPH, 2016d).