title: The national web-based outbreak rapid alert system in Norway: eight years of experience, 2006-2013.
abstract: In 2005, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health established a web-based outbreak rapid alert system called Vesuv. The system is used for mandatory outbreak alerts from municipal medical officers, healthcare institutions, and food safety authorities. As of 2013, 1426 outbreaks have been reported, involving 32913 cases. More than half of the outbreaks occurred in healthcare institutions (759 outbreaks, 53·2%). A total of 474 (33·2%) outbreaks were associated with food or drinking water. The web-based rapid alert system has proved to be a helpful tool by enhancing reporting and enabling rapid and efficient information sharing between different authorities at both the local and national levels. It is also an important tool for event-based reporting, as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005. Collecting information from all the outbreak alerts and reports in a national database is also useful for analysing trends, such as occurrence of certain microorganisms, places or sources of infection, or route of transmission. This can facilitate the identification of specific areas where more general preventive measures are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guzman-Herrador
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vold
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Food Safety Authority,Head Office,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heier
authors.affiliation: Norwegian School of Veterinary Science,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kapperud
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology,Norwegian Institute of Public Health,Oslo,Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nygård
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D060766:Drinking Water; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D020407:Internet; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water
keywords: Outbreaks; surveillance systems