Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Norwegian: Mattilsynet) is a Norwegian government agency responsible for safe food and drinking water, and works within the fields of human, plant, fish and animal health as well as environmentally friendly production and ethically acceptable farming of animals and fish[citation needed]. Other duties are related to cosmetics, medicines and inspection of animal health personnel.Main offices are located in Oslo while there are 63 district and eight regional offices. There are also three national competence centers: fish and seafood in Bergen, plants and vegetarian foods in Ås, and animals and carnivore food in Sandnes. The agency was created in 2003 when four government agencies (the States Food Authority, the Fisheries Directories Seafood Control, the States Animal Authority and the Norwegian Agricultural Inspection Service) were merged with 69 municipal food authorities..
PurposeIn June 2024, a genomic cluster of seven Salmonella Typhimurium - sequence type 19, and cluster type 21092 - was detected in Norway, triggering a national outbreak investigation.MethodsInformation about new cases was collected from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases and the database at the National Reference Laboratory for Enteropathogenic Bacteria (NRL) at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH). Microbiological analyses were conducted by NRL at NIPH for human samples and at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute for animal samples. Epidemiological data was collected through interviews. International notification was sent via EpiPulse.ResultsEleven cases in total, sampled between March 6 and July 11, 2024, were identified across Norway. The median age of affected individuals was three years. Notably, 73% of the cases reported prior contact with cats or passerine birds. The outbreak strain was also detected in a faecal sample from a cat belonging to one of the affected households, suggesting an animal source. Concurrently, Finland and Sweden reported five and six cases, respectively, involving the same outbreak strain. Several of these individuals also reported contact with cats or birds.ConclusionsPasserine birds are a well-documented reservoir for S. Typhimurium in the Nordic region, often leading to transmission to both cats and humans. This outbreak highlights the role of animal exposure in the spread of S. Typhimurium and emphasize the need for timely, targeted public health communication on infection prevention measures.
Abstract Background Routinely recorded meat inspection data represent a valuable source of information for animal health and welfare surveillance. However, their utility for secondary purposes depends on data quality and the consistency of recorded findings. This study aims to describe the data recorded during the slaughter process for Norwegian pigs, the feasibility of combining datasets, and estimate the contribution of farm, abattoir, and external factors to the overall variation in recorded findings, using meat inspection records from October 2021 to March 2024 from 15 abattoirs, comprising 75 828 batches. Results Meat inspection data are recorded at three stages of the pig slaughter process, resulting in three separate databases. Merging of these datasets was not possible at the individual pig level with adequate completeness, and substantial manual data processing was required to combine data at the batch level. Post-mortem inspection is conducted at two stages: routine inspection of all carcasses, recorded as “extended disease registrations” (EDR) and assessment of carcasses suspected of requiring condemnation, documented as “post-mortem findings”. The variation in the most frequent EDR findings and post-mortem findings was estimated using variance partitioning. EDR findings showed low variation between abattoirs, particularly for “pericarditis and/or pleuritis” and “open tail wounds”, suggesting consistent detection between abattoirs. In contrast, the post-mortem findings «systemic disease», “abscesses/phlegmons” and “gastrointestinal disease” showed substantial abattoir-level variance, indicating inconsistencies in recording practices. Season had minimal effect on the variance components, while day of week only affected the post-mortem finding «gastrointestinal disease». Conclusion EDR findings were consistently detected across abattoirs, suggesting their potential as a reliable source for animal health and welfare surveillance. In contrast, substantial variation in certain post-mortem findings highlights the need for harmonization and standardization of recording practices. Future improvements in data quality and traceability are essential for robust secondary use of meat inspection data in surveillance.
In 2023, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) heavily affected gulls in Europe. In July, a mass mortality event was reported in the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) breeding colony at Ekkerøy in Northern Norway. The cause was confirmed to be infection with the HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus, genotype EA-2022-BB. We describe the outbreak in kittiwakes, including pathological and virological investigations, and discuss the management and zoonotic potential. With more than 15,000 dead birds reported, we estimate that the outbreak caused a reduction in the kittiwake population at Ekkerøy of at least 50%. Diseased birds exhibited neurological signs. Necropsies of 10 birds revealed a peracute fatal systemic disease, with severe lesions in the brain and pancreas co-localizing with viral RNA and antigen. Vascular expression of α2,3-linked sialic acids (SAs) and viral RNA/antigen may reflect hematogenous viral spread. Further studies should investigate the long-term impact of HPAI on kittiwake populations.
Between 2022 and 2025, highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of clade 2.3.4.4b, including four distinct H5 Eurasian (EA) genotypes, were detected in wild birds and mammals in the Svalbard Archipelago and on the island of Jan Mayen. We describe their epidemiology and genomic characteristics to improve understanding of HPAIV occurrence and transmission in the High Arctic. The initial cases in 2022 occurred during summer and involved a glaucous gull ( Larus hyperboreus ) and great skuas ( Stercorarius skua ) on Svalbard and Jan Mayen, representing the first detections of HPAIVs in the High Arctic. Three HPAIV genotypes were identified: EA-2020-C (H5N1), EA-2021-AB (H5N1) and EA-2021-I (H5N5). In 2023, HPAIVs were detected in a broader range of bird species and retrospectively in an Atlantic walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus ) as reported by another research group. Genotypes identified in 2023 were EA-2020-C (H5N1), EA-2021-I (H5N5) and EA-2022-BB (H5N1). No cases were reported in 2024. In 2025, EA-2021-I (H5N5) was detected in Arctic foxes ( Vulpes lagopus ) on Svalbard, without preceding detections in wild birds. The foxes exhibited neurological symptoms and necropsy of one individual revealed the presence of feathers in its stomach. All sequenced viruses from the Arctic foxes uniquely carried the combination of PB2-E627K and PB1-H115Q, previously associated with mammalian adaptation. The detection of multiple genotypes indicates repeated and independent introductions of HPAIVs into these regions. The co-circulation of genetically distinct virus strains in areas of high bird density further suggests that Arctic breeding grounds may facilitate local viral amplification, reassortment and subsequent dissemination along migratory flyways, including transcontinental spread.
This study investigates a nationwide Salmonella outbreak in Norway during October–December 2024 involving four different serovars—S. Newport, S. Typhimurium, S. Kisarawe, and S. Kinondoni. The investigation aimed to assess the outbreak's scope, identify the source, and implement control measures. Epidemiological analyses included trawling and targeted questionnaires, a matched case–control study, and grocery receipt analysis. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) determined genetic links between Salmonella isolates from human cases, food, and environmental samples. Traceback investigations identified potential contamination sources. A total of 230 cases (69
