Effective protection against the spread of communicable diseases

Effective communicable disease control is essential for good public health. From an international perspective, Sweden is in a favourable situation with regard to the spread of communicable diseases. On a national level, the spread of serious communicable diseases is limited.

For several of the serious communicable diseases, the number of new cases has either declined dramatically over the past 10-15 years or has remained at a constant level in Sweden. For example, the spread of HIV has been held at a low level thanks to early initiatives in connection with the outbreak of the epidemic and extensive, well-coordinated HIV prevention measures. However, the positive trend noted during the early 1990s has ceased over the last two years. The increase in the number of reported cases of HIV infection from 2001 and 2002 also continued during 2003.

Communicable diseases are still among the most common illnesses and are a serious problem, both for society and for individuals. Sweden must also be prepared to deal with changes in the nature of communicable diseases or in the way they are transmitted, causing them to once again pose a serious threat to the population.

In the Public Health Objectives Bill (2002/03:35), the Government identified a cross-sectoral set of objectives that is to be used for all work in the field of public health. The issues relating to communicable diseases are found in target area 7, Effective communicable disease control and in target area 8, Secure and safe sexuality and good reproductive health.