On Thursday, 29 September, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) drew attention to cases of hepatitis A (HAV) genotype IB that were reported in six EU Member States and the United Kingdom.
As of 29 September, 303 cases had been reported in Austria, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Based on the available epidemiological data, ECDC believes that human-to-human contamination has occurred, and it has not ruled out foodborne transmission. Health investigations are ongoing.
The virus is highly transmissible through contaminated food or water and via the faecal-oral route during close contact. The average incubation period is 4 weeks and can range from 2 to 6 weeks.
ECDC recommends several preventive measures such as practising good personal hygiene and washing hands with soap after changing nappies. Using condoms is recommended, and the World Health Organization advises hepatitis A vaccination for sexually active gay men.
In addition, ECDC recommends intensifying—with the competent authorities—food surveillance should clusters potentially linked to foodborne transmission be reported within a short period of time.
Finally, ECDC recommends that health authorities launch initiatives to raise awareness with civil society, the media, and social networks.
Link to the bulletin: https://aeur.eu/f/3bk (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)