In 1997, a new notification system for waterbome outbreaks was introduced in Finland. In this system, municipal health protection authorities have to inform national authorities of all suspected waterborne outbreaks. A notification of an outbreak has to be given as soon as possible after a suspicion of an outbreak linked to the quality of drinking water has come out i.e. before confirmative microbiological and chemical analyses of the quality of drinking water have been carried out. The notification which nowadays is an internet based form, is aiming at immediate information on suspected waterbome outbreaks in order to start outbreak investigation and control measures in time. The form is filled by municipal health protection authorities who, in Finland, are responsible for frequent surveillance of the quality of drinking water. The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THE) manages waterbome outbreaks by maintaining a national task group, which helps local authorities in technical, analytical and epidemiological problems associated with outbreaks. Between 1998 and 2010, 69 outbreaks resulting in 27,300 illness cases were notified (unpublished results). Outbreaks have typically been associated with small ground water supplies or private wells serving less than 500 consumers. Typically, these water abstraction plants utilize minimal water treatment. Norovims and Campylobacter jejuni have been the most common microbes causing waterbome outbreaks in Finland.
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