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[ZD04] Outbreaks of waterborne diseases (epidemics)
Key message
Slovenia reported one to three waterborne outbreaks per year during 2011–2021, except in 2015 and 2017– 2020, when no outbreaks were reported. In these waterborne outbreaks, 3 to 355 cases were reported. In about half of the outbreaks, the causative agent has not been identified, while in others the following causative agents have been confirmed: Cryptosporidium parvum, Escherichia coli, rotavirus, norovirus, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Typhimurium, Francisella tularensis were identified.
Definition
This indicator shows the number of received reports of infections of the gastrointestinal tract that can be transmitted via drinking water. The source of infection is microbiological (via faeces) contamination of drinking water; consequently, the indicator is a sign of drinking water quality.
An outbreak attributable to water is the occurrence of a infectious disease transmitted via contaminated drinking water that is greater than would otherwise be expected at a particular time and place and in the number of affected individuals; as well, at least two people will show similar clinical symptoms and an epidemiological picture shows that water is a probable source of infection. Outbreaks are sudden and affect individuals using drinking water from the same source or area. The disease may affect all age groups. Outbreaks are not season-related, although they may be influenced by meteorological conditions (abundant rain, snow melt) and disruptions in the treatment and distribution of drinking water as well as by management of water protection areas and compliance with protection regimes within such areas.
Charts
NIJZ, 2011-2021 (17. 10. 2022)
| Celje[No.] | Koper[No.] | Kranj[No.] | Ljubljana[No.] | Maribor[No.] | Murska Sobota[No.] | Nova Gorica[No.] | Novo mesto[No.] | Ravne na Koroškem[No.] | Total[No.] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
NIJZ, 2011-2021 (17. 10. 2022)
| Celje[No.] | Koper[No.] | Kranj[No.] | Ljubljana[No.] | Maribor[No.] | Murska Sobota[No.] | Nova Gorica[No.] | Novo mesto[No.] | Ravne na Koroškem[No.] | Total[No.] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 152 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 263 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 355 | 405 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Computer program SURVIVAL, NIJZ 2011-2021 (17. 10. 2022)
| Percentage of infectious diarrhoea (ICD10: A09, A04.9, A05.9, A08.4) with unconfirmed agent to all reported infectious diarrhoea[%] | Percentage of infectious diarrhoea (ICD10: A09, A04.9, A05.9, A08.4) with unconfirmed agent to all reported contagious infectious diarrhoea[%] | |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 69.90 | 21.40 |
| 2012 | 72.90 | 20.40 |
| 2013 | 70.30 | 19.70 |
| 2014 | 70.50 | 21.90 |
| 2015 | 66 | 25 |
| 2016 | 63.50 | 23.30 |
| 2017 | 65 | 24.70 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
WHO, ENHIS, 2015 (17. 10. 2022)
2008[No.] | 2009[No.] | 2010[No.] | 2011[No.] | 2012[No.] | 2013[No.] | 2008-2013[No.] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 1 | 1 | |||||
Belgium | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
Denmark | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |||
Finland | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
France | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | |||
Greece | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
Hungary | 1 | 1 | |||||
Ireland | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 24 |
Poland | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||
Slovenia | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
Spain | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||
Sweden | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 9 | ||
United Kingdom | 1 | 1 | 2 |
ECDC, EFSA (17. 11. 2022)
2008[No.] | 2009[No.] | 2010[No.] | 2011[No.] | 2012[No.] | 2013[No.] | 2008-2013[No.] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 2 | 2 | |||||
Belgium | 3000 | 64 | 3064 | ||||
Denmark | 500 | 800 | 183 | 1483 | |||
Finland | 191 | 17 | 78 | 245 | 214 | 745 | |
France | 26 | 45 | 6 | 77 | |||
Greece | 60 | 631 | 691 | ||||
Hunagry | 597 | 597 | |||||
Ireland | 14 | 8 | 50 | 25 | 54 | 26 | 177 |
Poland | 6 | 67 | 73 | ||||
Slovenia | 170 | 52 | 263 | 44 | 9 | 538 | |
Spain | 10 | 18 | 28 | ||||
Sweden | 2000 | 177 | 13755 | 20000 | 35932 | ||
United Kingdom | 44 | 39 | 83 |
Goals
- To provide access to safe drinking water and adequate water treatment to all inhabitants of Slovenia.
- To improve the microbiological quality of drinking water in Slovenia, especially with regard to faecal pollution and particularly in small systems and areas with karst drinking water sources, which are classified as surface drinking water sources from the perspective of public health.
- It is essential that an overall management strategy is im-plemented in which multiple barriers, including source water protection and appropriate treatment processes, as well as protection during storage and distribution, are used in conjunction with disinfection to prevent or remove microbial contamination.
- To ensure, early-as-possible detection, information, management and reduction of the number of cases of outbreaks of waterborne acute gastroenterocolitis of unknown etiology;
- To analyse causes and eliminate mistakes in treatment and management of outbreaks on the basis of experience. In each outbreak, efforts should be made to improve treatment and management methods, which should serve as useful experience in the future.
