Assessment of risk of introduction of Echinococcus multilocularis to mainland Norway

Source at https://vkm.no/In the light of the recent findings of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) in four red foxes from three different locations in Sweden, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen; VKM), Panel of Biological Hazards (Faggruppe hygiene og smittestoffer) took the initiative to undertake a risk assessment regarding the probability of this parasite being introduced to mainland Norway and thus becoming a threat to public health in the country.Med bakgrunn i funnet av bendelorm Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) i fire rødrev fra tre forskjellige steder i Sverige, har VKM ved Faggruppe hygiene og smittestoffer tatt initiativ til å foreta en vurdering av sannsynligheten for at EM kan bli introdusert til fastlands Norge og sannsynligheten for at mennesker i så fall også kan bli smittet

No difference in risk of hospitalization between reported cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and Alpha variant in Norway

Objectives To estimate the risk of hospitalization among reported cases of the Delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) compared with the Alpha variant in Norway, and the risk of hospitalization by vaccination status. Methods A cohort study was conducted on laboratory-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Norway, diagnosed between 3 May and 15 August 2021. Adjusted risk ratios (aRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multi-variable log-binomial regression, accounting for variant, vaccination status, demographic characteristics, week of sampling and underlying comorbidities. Results In total, 7977 cases of the Delta variant and 12,078 cases of the Alpha variant were included in this study. Overall, 347 (1.7%) cases were hospitalized. The aRR of hospitalization for the Delta variant compared with the Alpha variant was 0.97 (95% CI 0.76–1.23). Partially vaccinated cases had a 72% reduced risk of hospitalization (95% CI 59–82%), and fully vaccinated cases had a 76% reduced risk of hospitalization (95% CI 61–85%) compared with unvaccinated cases. Conclusions No difference was found between the risk of hospitalization for Delta cases and Alpha cases in Norway. The results of this study support the notion that partially and fully vaccinated cases are highly protected against hospitalization with coronavirus disease 2019.publishedVersio

Increased risk of hospitalisation and intensive care admission associated with reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in Norway, December 2020-May 2021

Introduction Since their emergence, SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 have spread worldwide. We estimated the risk of hospitalisation and admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for infections with B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in Norway, compared to infections with non-VOC. Materials and methods Using linked individual-level data from national registries, we conducted a cohort study on laboratory-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Norway diagnosed between 28 December 2020 and 2 May 2021. Variants were identified based on whole genome sequencing, partial sequencing by Sanger sequencing or PCR screening for selected targets. The outcome was hospitalisation or ICU admission. We calculated adjusted risk ratios (aRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multivariable binomial regression to examine the association between SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 with i) hospital admission and ii) ICU admission compared to non-VOC. Results We included 23,169 cases of B.1.1.7, 548 B.1.351 and 4,584 non-VOC. Overall, 1,017 cases were hospitalised (3.6%) and 206 admitted to ICU (0.7%). B.1.1.7 was associated with a 1.9-fold increased risk of hospitalisation (aRR 95%CI 1.6–2.3) and a 1.8-fold increased risk of ICU admission (aRR 95%CI 1.2–2.8) compared to non-VOC. Among hospitalised cases, no difference was found in the risk of ICU admission between B.1.1.7 and non-VOC. B.1.351 was associated with a 2.4-fold increased risk of hospitalisation (aRR 95%CI 1.7–3.3) and a 2.7-fold increased risk of ICU admission (aRR 95%CI 1.2–6.5) compared to non-VOC. Discussion Our findings add to the growing evidence of a higher risk of severe disease among persons infected with B.1.1.7 or B.1.351. This highlights the importance of prevention and control measures to reduce transmission of these VOC in society, particularly ongoing vaccination programmes, and preparedness plans for hospital surge capacity.publishedVersio

Emerging Genotype (GGIIb) of Norovirus in Drinking Water, Sweden

From May through June 2001, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that affected at least 200 persons occurred in a combined activity camp and conference center in Stockholm County. The source of illness was contaminated drinking water obtained from private wells. The outbreak appears to have started with sewage pipeline problems near the kitchen, which caused overflow of the sewage system and contaminated the environment. While no pathogenic bacteria were found in water or stools specimens, norovirus was detected in 8 of 11 stool specimens and 2 of 3 water samples by polymerase chain reaction. Nucleotide sequencing of amplicons from two patients and two water samples identified an emerging genotype designated GGIIb, which was circulating throughout several European countries during 2000 and 2001. This investigation documents the first waterborne outbreak of viral gastroenteritis in Sweden, where nucleotide sequencing showed a direct link between contaminated water and illness

Salmonella diarizonae hos dyr i Norge. Konsekvenser for dyr og mennesker.

Source at https://vkm.no/S. diarizonae er et subspecies av Salmonella som påvises endemisk hos sau i enkelte regioner i Norge. Det er derfor stilt spørsmål om mikrobens potensielle og reelle betydning for både folke- og dyrehelsen. Det er også stilt spørsmål ved påstanden om at Norge har en tilnærmet salmonella-fri husdyrpopulasjon kan forsvares når S. diarizonae påvises relativt ofte hos sau i Norge i dag. Mattilsynet har på ovennevnte bakgrunn bedt Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet (VKM) om en risikovurdering. Det ble en ad hoc arbeidsgruppe nedsatt for å gjennomføre oppdraget. Vurderingen er utført av faggruppe for hygiene og smittestoffer ved VKM.S. diarizonae is a sub-species of Salmonella that has been demonstrated to be endemic in sheep in various regions of Norway. Questions have therefore been posed regarding this microbe’s potential and actual significance regarding both human and animal health. It has also been questioned whether the contention that Norway’s domestic animal population is almost Salmonella-free can be defended when S. diarizonae is demonstrated relatively frequently in sheep in some regions. Based on this background, The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety, Panel on Biological Hazards, was asked by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority for a risk assessment regarding. In response, an ad hoc Working Group of experts wasappointed with the mandate to draft a risk assessment regarding this issue

Dekontaminering av pattedyrslakt ved bruk av damp eller varmt vann. Uttalelse fra Faggruppe for hygiene og smittestoffer i Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet

Mattilsynet har gitt VKM i oppgave å foreta en risikovurdering når det gjelder ”dekontaminering av pattedyrslakt ved bruk av varmt vann eller damp”. Da det er en bestemtdekontamineringsteknologi Mattilsynet ønsker utredet, velger faggruppen å bruke den mer presise betegnelsen ”overflatepasteurisering av slakt” som er i tråd med uttrykk og definisjoner som forskere innenfor dette området har benyttet om denne teknologien

Assessment of benefits and risks of probiotics in processed cereal-based baby foods Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19

Source at https://vkm.no/The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has appointed an ad hoc-group of experts to answer a request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority regarding benefit and risk assessment of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 (F19) in processed cereal-based baby foods intended for small children 1-3 years. This assessment is based on the literature provided by the notifier as well as that found by a MEDLINE search.Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet (VKM) har på oppdrag fra Mattilsynet utarbeidet en nytte- og risikovurdering av Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei F19 (F19) tilsatt i barnegrøt til barn i alderen 1-3 år. For å besvare oppdraget nedsatte VKM en ad hoc-gruppe. Vurderingen er basert på gjennomgang av litteratur tilsendt fra virksomheten og MEDLINE litteratursøk