Tartuntataudit

Tartuntataudit (infectious disease epidemiology) is the branch of public health that studies the distribution and determinants of infectious diseases in populations and applies this knowledge to prevent and control outbreaks. Core activities include surveillance to detect and monitor infections, analysis of incidence and trends, definition of notifiable diseases, and the use of laboratory data to confirm cases. Public health authorities use these data to identify outbreaks, assess risks, allocate resources, and guide interventions such as vaccination campaigns, hygiene measures, and communication to the public.

Methods include mandatory reporting of certain diseases, sentinel surveillance, laboratory networks, outbreak investigations, contact tracing, and monitoring antimicrobial resistance. Data are often shared through national and international information systems to enable timely responses and comparisons across regions.

In Finland, tartuntataudit is a defined area within public health that is coordinated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) together with regional authorities. The term covers notifiable disease surveillance, seasonal and emerging infections, and the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance. THL collects and publishes national figures, issues guidance, and supports outbreak investigations and vaccination policy. The concept aligns with international public health surveillance frameworks and the World Health Organization’s reporting obligations.