Ashish C Shrestha1,2, Robert L P Flower1, Clive R Seed3, Anthony J Keller3, Veronica Hoad3, Robert Harley4, Robyn Leader5, Ben Polkinghorne5, Catriona Furlong6, Helen M Faddy1,2. 1. Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia. 2. School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. 3. Medical Services, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Perth, WA, Australia. 4. Medical Services, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia. 5. OzFoodNet, Office of Health Protection, Australian Government Department of Health, Canberra, Australia. 6. OzFoodNet, New South Wales Department of Health, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In many developed countries hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have occurred predominantly in travellers to countries endemic for HEV. HEV is a potential threat to blood safety as the virus is transfusion-transmissible. To minimise this risk in Australia, individuals diagnosed with HEV are deferred. Malarialdeferrals, when donors are restricted from donating fresh blood components following travel toanareain which malaria is endemic, probably also decrease the HEV risk, by deferring donors who travel to many countries also endemic for HEV. The aim of this study is to describe overseas-acquired HEV cases in Australia, in order to determine whether infection in travellers poses a risk to Australian blood safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Details of all notified HEV cases in Australia from 2002 to 2014 were accessed, and importation rates estimated. Countries in which HEV was acquired were compared to those for which donations are restricted following travel because of a malaria risk. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-two cases of HEV were acquired overseas. Travel to India accounted for most of these infections, although the importation rate was highest for Nepal and Bangladesh. Countries for which donations are restricted following travel due to malaria risk accounted for 94% of overseas-acquired HEV cases. DISCUSSION: The vast majority of overseas-acquired HEV infections were in travellers returning from South Asian countries, which are subject to donation-related travel restrictions for malaria. This minimises the risk HEV poses to the Australian blood supply.
BACKGROUND: In many developed countries hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have occurred predominantly in travellers to countries endemic for HEV. HEV is a potential threat to blood safety as the virus is transfusion-transmissible. To minimise this risk in Australia, individuals diagnosed with HEV are deferred. Malarialdeferrals, when donors are restricted from donating fresh blood components following travel toanareain which malaria is endemic, probably also decrease the HEV risk, by deferring donors who travel to many countries also endemic for HEV. The aim of this study is to describe overseas-acquired HEV cases in Australia, in order to determine whether infection in travellers poses a risk to Australian blood safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Details of all notified HEV cases in Australia from 2002 to 2014 were accessed, and importation rates estimated. Countries in which HEV was acquired were compared to those for which donations are restricted following travel because of a malaria risk. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-two cases of HEV were acquired overseas. Travel to India accounted for most of these infections, although the importation rate was highest for Nepal and Bangladesh. Countries for which donations are restricted following travel due to malaria risk accounted for 94% of overseas-acquired HEV cases. DISCUSSION: The vast majority of overseas-acquired HEV infections were in travellers returning from South Asian countries, which are subject to donation-related travel restrictions for malaria. This minimises the risk HEV poses to the Australian blood supply.
Authors: Patricia E Hewitt; Samreen Ijaz; Su R Brailsford; Rachel Brett; Steven Dicks; Becky Haywood; Iain T R Kennedy; Alan Kitchen; Poorvi Patel; John Poh; Katherine Russell; Kate I Tettmar; Joanne Tossell; Ines Ushiro-Lumb; Richard S Tedder Journal: Lancet Date: 2014-07-28 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Chaturangi M Yapa; Catriona Furlong; Alexander Rosewell; Kate A Ward; Sheena Adamson; Craig Shadbolt; Jen Kok; Samantha L Tracy; Scott Bowden; Elizabeth J Smedley; Mark J Ferson; Vicky Sheppeard; Jeremy M McAnulty Journal: Med J Aust Date: 2016-04-18 Impact factor: 7.738
Authors: Emily S Gurley; M Jahangir Hossain; Repon C Paul; Hossain M S Sazzad; M Saiful Islam; Shahana Parveen; Labib I Faruque; Mushtuq Husain; Khorshed Ara; Yasmin Jahan; Mahmudur Rahman; Stephen P Luby Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2014-05-22 Impact factor: 9.079