Investigations and actions taken during 2011 due to the first finding of Echinococcus multilocularis in Sweden

H Wahlström; A Lindberg; J Lindh; A Wallensten; R Lindqvist; L Plym-Forshell; E Osterman Lind; E O Ågren; S Widgren; U Carlsson; D Christensson; M Cedersmyg; E Lindström; G E Olsson; B Hörnfeldt; A Barragan; C Davelid; M Hjertqvist; M Elvander

doi:10.2807/ese.17.28.20215-en

Surveillance and outbreak reports Open Access

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Investigations and actions taken during 2011 due to the first finding of Echinococcus multilocularis in Sweden

H Wahlström¹, A Lindberg¹, J Lindh², A Wallensten², R Lindqvist³, L Plym-Forshell³, E Osterman Lind¹, E O Ågren¹, S Widgren¹, U Carlsson¹, D Christensson¹, M Cedersmyg⁴, E Lindström⁵, G E Olsson⁶, B Hörnfeldt⁶, A Barragan², C Davelid⁷, M Hjertqvist², M Elvander¹
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Affiliations: ¹ National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden ² Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, Solna, Sweden ³ National Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden ⁴ Swedish Board of Agriculture, Jönköping, Sweden ⁵ Örnbo viltfakta, Ramsberg, Sweden ⁶ Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden ⁷ National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm, Sweden

Correspondence:
H Wahlström
helene.wahlstrom sva.se
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Citation style for this article: Wahlström H, Lindberg A, Lindh J, Wallensten A, Lindqvist R, Plym-Forshell L, Osterman Lind E, Ågren E O, Widgren S, Carlsson U, Christensson D, Cedersmyg M, Lindström E, Olsson G E, Hörnfeldt B, Barragan A, Davelid C, Hjertqvist M, Elvander M. Investigations and actions taken during 2011 due to the first finding of Echinococcus multilocularis in Sweden. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(28):pii=20215. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.17.28.20215-en Received: 06 Feb 2012

Abstract

Echinococcus multilocularis is a parasite that can cause alveolar echinococcosis disease. After the first positive finding of E. multilocularis in Sweden in 2011, a consulting group with representatives from relevant authorities was summoned. In this group, all relevant information was shared, strategies for information dissemination and any actions to be taken due to the finding of E. multilocularis were discussed and decided. The present paper describes the actions taken during 2011 and the results thereof, including surveillance in animals, risk assessment for humans to become infected and recommendations given to the public. Further discussion about whether the parasite was introduced, and if so, how, as well as possible future development of the infection in animals and humans in Sweden and future actions are included.