Number of reported outbreaks of diseases arising from drinking-water

Data source
The data are based on a questionnaire concerning outbreaks of waterborne diseases in Europe and surveillance systems for such outbreaks. The questionnaire is available on request at info@ecehbonn.euro.who.int. The questionnaire covered items such as the legal framework for outbreak monitoring, the number of outbreaks and cases of illness, age groups and causative agents. It was completed by the following organizations: Scientific Institute of Public Health, Belgium; National Institute of Public Health, Croatia; National Institute of Public Health, Czech Republic; Health Protection Inspectorate, Estonia; Institute of Health and Welfare (previously National Public Health Institute), Finland; National School of Public Health, Greece; National Centre for Epidemiology and National Institute of Environmental Health, Hungary; Public Health Institute, Italy; State Environmental Health Centre, Lithuania; ISS Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway; Public Health Authority, Slovakia; Ministry of Health/National Network of Epidemiological Surveillance, Spain; Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control, Sweden; and Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom.

Description of data
Data were obtained mainly from national surveys. In most countries, the information concerning outbreaks of waterborne diseases is included in the general infectious diseases monitoring system. Finland applies a separate monitoring system for outbreaks of diseases attributable to drinking-water. Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (England and Wales) have monitoring and reporting systems for bathing water outbreaks. Only Lithuania claimed to be able to produce statistics on cases of illness among young people under 18 years of age.

Geographical coverage
Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (England and Wales).

Period of coverage
The data cover the whole period, 2000–2007, in all the countries except Estonia (2000–2005), the Czech Republic (2000–2005), Italy (2000–2005), Greece (2004–2005) and the United Kingdom (England/Wales) (2000–2005).

Frequency of update
All the countries confirmed that routine reporting/monitoring systems were used. It must therefore be assumed that all the countries have continuous monitoring systems that include a periodic/annual national reporting system for such outbreaks.

Data quality
Reporting systems vary. Croatia, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden use a compulsory reporting system for outbreaks of waterborne disease. Other countries use national surveys that may include information collected using both compulsory and voluntary reporting systems.