- Monitoring epidemics, outbreaks and individual cases to ensure that as few people as possible become ill.
- Giving specialist advice, for example to various authorities and institutions.
- Informing the public about what to do.
- Drawing up guidelines for the control of communicable diseases.
- In addition, monitoring and advising on the childhood vaccination programme.
This work is carried out in collaboration with the public health medical officer institutions, which have a number of authority functions and co-ordinate the local response to epidemics. Statens Serum Institut is a specialist adviser to the Board.