Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-mzp66 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-11T21:54:19.173Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An outbreak of hepatitis A in Southern Italy: the case for vaccinating food handlers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2005

R. PRATO ,
P. L. LOPALCO ,
M. CHIRONNA ,
C. GERMINARIO  and
M. QUARTO
R. PRATO
Affiliation:
University of Foggia, Italy; Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Ospedali Riuniti Viale L. Pinto 11, Foggia, Italy
P. L. LOPALCO
Affiliation:
DIMIMP, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari, Italy; Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, Bari, Italy
M. CHIRONNA
Affiliation:
DIMIMP, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari, Italy; Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, Bari, Italy
C. GERMINARIO
Affiliation:
DIMIMP, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari, Italy; Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, Bari, Italy
M. QUARTO
Affiliation:
DIMIMP, Section of Hygiene, University of Bari, Italy; Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, Bari, Italy
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We report an outbreak of hepatitis A that occurred in the city of Bari (Apulian region) in June 2002. Overall, 26 cases were observed over a 4-week period. These were traced back to the index case, a food handler who prepared various food products for sale over the counter at a store in the district (OR 5·36, CI 95% 1·58–19·25). Laboratory investigations confirmed that the outbreak was due to a point source and identified a new genotype IB variant. There is a possible indication for administration of hepatitis A vaccine to food handlers, although further evidence of an acceptable cost–benefit ratio needs to be ascertained.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 134 , Issue 4 , August 2006 , pp. 799 - 802
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press