PURPOSE: In 2013/2014, Italy experienced one of the largest community-wide prolonged outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) throughout the country. The article provides a comprehensive description of the outbreak and the investigation carried out by a multidisciplinary National Task Force, in collaboration with regional and local public health authorities. Control strategies of food-borne HAV infection in both the human and food sectors are also described. METHODOLOGY: Enhanced human epidemiological and microbiological surveillance together with microbiological monitoring of HAV in food and trace-back investigation were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 1803 HAV cases were identified from 1 January 2013 to 31 August 2014, in Italy. Sequencing was possible for 368 cases (20.4 %), mostly collected between 1 January 2013 and 28 February 2014, and 246 cases (66.8 %) harboured an HAV outbreak strain. Imported frozen berries contaminated with HAV were identified as the vehicle of the outbreak which also involved many other European countries in 2013 and 2014. Epidemiological evidence obtained through a case-control study was supported by the finding of a 100 % nucleotide similarity of the VP1/2A sequences of HAVs detected in human and food samples. Trace-back investigation revealed an extremely complex supplying network with no possibility for a point source potentially explaining the vast contamination of berries found in Italy. CONCLUSION: The investigation benefited from an excellent collaboration among different sectors who shared proactively the available information. Our findings highlight the importance of considering frozen berries among the highest risk factors for HAV.
PURPOSE: In 2013/2014, Italy experienced one of the largest community-wide prolonged outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) throughout the country. The article provides a comprehensive description of the outbreak and the investigation carried out by a multidisciplinary National Task Force, in collaboration with regional and local public health authorities. Control strategies of food-borne HAV infection in both the human and food sectors are also described. METHODOLOGY: Enhanced human epidemiological and microbiological surveillance together with microbiological monitoring of HAV in food and trace-back investigation were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 1803 HAV cases were identified from 1 January 2013 to 31 August 2014, in Italy. Sequencing was possible for 368 cases (20.4 %), mostly collected between 1 January 2013 and 28 February 2014, and 246 cases (66.8 %) harboured an HAV outbreak strain. Imported frozen berries contaminated with HAV were identified as the vehicle of the outbreak which also involved many other European countries in 2013 and 2014. Epidemiological evidence obtained through a case-control study was supported by the finding of a 100 % nucleotide similarity of the VP1/2A sequences of HAVs detected in human and food samples. Trace-back investigation revealed an extremely complex supplying network with no possibility for a point source potentially explaining the vast contamination of berries found in Italy. CONCLUSION: The investigation benefited from an excellent collaboration among different sectors who shared proactively the available information. Our findings highlight the importance of considering frozen berries among the highest risk factors for HAV.
Authors: Roberta Battistini; Irene Rossini; Carlo Ercolini; Maria Goria; Maria Rita Callipo; Cristiana Maurella; Enrico Pavoni; Laura Serracca Journal: Food Environ Virol Date: 2019-01-25 Impact factor: 2.778
Authors: Theresa Enkirch; Ronnie Eriksson; Sofia Persson; Daniela Schmid; Stephan W Aberle; Emma Löf; Bengt Wittesjö; Birgitta Holmgren; Charlotte Johnzon; Eva X Gustafsson; Lena M Svensson; Lisa Labbé Sandelin; Lukas Richter; Mats Lindblad; Mia Brytting; Sabine Maritschnik; Tatjana Tallo; Therese Malm; Lena Sundqvist; Josefine Lundberg Ederth Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2018-10
Authors: K Mellou; A Chrysostomou; T Sideroglou; M Kyritsi; T Georgakopoulou; S Tsiodras; C Hadjichristodoulou Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2020-02-13 Impact factor: 2.451
Authors: Claudia Ruscher; Mirko Faber; Dirk Werber; Klaus Stark; Julia Bitzegeio; Kai Michaelis; Daniel Sagebiel; Jürgen J Wenzel; Julia Enkelmann Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2020-09