Contagious diseases and epidemics

Our role in an infectious disease outbreak

We coordinate and supervise infectious disease prevention efforts in our area. We make sure that wellbeing services counties and the HUS Group are prepared for localised public health emergencies. With supervision, we ensure that the work to combat communicable diseases is carried out in accordance with legislation, national plans and decisions made by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 

The effective prevention of infectious diseases requires that different authorities work together.

Prevention of infectious diseases: Roles of different authorities (stm.fi)

The Regional State Administrative Agency can order the arrangement of a voluntary or mandatory health examination

We can order health checks for people in a town or workplace, facility, vehicle or other similar place if checks are needed to prevent the spread of a generally hazardous infectious disease. Attending a health check is voluntary.

We can decide that attending a health check is mandatory, if it is necessary for the prevention of the spread of a generally hazardous infectious disease or a suspected generally hazardous infectious disease.

Decisions on closing establishments and banning gatherings are made by the wellbeing services county and the Regional State Administrative Agency

The body responsible for combating communicable diseases in the wellbeing services county may impose the closure of social and health care units, educational institutions, nurseries, apartments and other similar facilities in its area and ban meetings and gatherings. The prerequisite is that the measure is necessary to prevent the spread of a generally hazardous communicable disease or a communicable disease that is justifiably suspected to be generally hazardous. The Regional State Administrative Agency can make similar decisions in its area.

Sudden public health emergencies

If urgent measures are necessary, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Regional State Administrative Agency and the body responsible for combating communicable diseases in the wellbeing services county or HUS Group can make the necessary decisions in their operating area instead of the physician responsible for communicable diseases in the wellbeing services county or HUS Group. The decision can concern the quarantine of a person or goods or the isolation of a person.