H Sachdeva1,2, M Benusic3, S Ota1, R Stuart1, J Maclachlan1, V Dubey1,2, A Andonov4. 1. Communicable Disease Control, Toronto Public Health, Toronto, ON. 2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. 3. Public Health & Preventive Medicine Residency Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. 4. National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, MB.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In late 2016 and early 2017, a number of countries began reporting hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreaks involving person-to-person transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM), people using illicit drugs and homeless or underhoused persons. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology and public health response to an outbreak of HAV disproportionately affecting MSM in Toronto, Canada from January 2017 to November 2018. METHODS: Following an increase in the number of cases of HAV in MSM being reported in other countries, enhanced surveillance was performed for all non-travel-related cases of HAV reported from June 1, 2017 to November 1, 2018, including a retrospective analysis of cases reported from January 2017 to June 2017. Descriptive analysis and viral sequencing were performed to describe person-to-person transmission patterns and target interventions. Control strategies included interventions to promote the uptake of preexposure HAV vaccination, including social media campaigns geared to MSM, messaging to healthcare providers and vaccine clinics. RESULTS: Based on the outbreak case definitions, 52 confirmed and probable cases of HAV were identified. Over 80% of outbreak cases were male (n=43/52) and, among those for whom data were available, 64% (n=25/39) reported an MSM exposure. Data on hospitalization was available for 51 cases; 56% of confirmed cases (n=23/41) and 40% of probable cases (n=4/10) required hospitalization. Of the cases with serum samples that had HAV sequencing, 83% (n=30/36) had one of the three strains seen circulating in outbreaks among MSM internationally; 72% (n=26/36) were VRD_521_2016, which had been detected in recently reported European outbreaks among MSM. Targeted promotion of publicly-funded vaccination using social media platforms popular with MSM and targeted vaccine clinics were developed to promote HAV awareness and vaccine uptake among MSM. CONCLUSION: Outbreaks of HAV, attributed to person-to-person transmission of strains of HAV that disproportionately affected MSM and were likely to have been imported from international MSM outbreaks, have now occurred in Canada. Genetic sequencing of HAV, risk factor analysis of cases, monitoring trends of vaccine coverage in high-risk groups and initiation of vaccination campaigns that address barriers to HAV preexposure vaccine coverage in the MSM population may prevent future outbreaks.
BACKGROUND: In late 2016 and early 2017, a number of countries began reporting hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreaks involving person-to-person transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM), people using illicit drugs and homeless or underhoused persons. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology and public health response to an outbreak of HAV disproportionately affecting MSM in Toronto, Canada from January 2017 to November 2018. METHODS: Following an increase in the number of cases of HAV in MSM being reported in other countries, enhanced surveillance was performed for all non-travel-related cases of HAV reported from June 1, 2017 to November 1, 2018, including a retrospective analysis of cases reported from January 2017 to June 2017. Descriptive analysis and viral sequencing were performed to describe person-to-person transmission patterns and target interventions. Control strategies included interventions to promote the uptake of preexposure HAV vaccination, including social media campaigns geared to MSM, messaging to healthcare providers and vaccine clinics. RESULTS: Based on the outbreak case definitions, 52 confirmed and probable cases of HAV were identified. Over 80% of outbreak cases were male (n=43/52) and, among those for whom data were available, 64% (n=25/39) reported an MSM exposure. Data on hospitalization was available for 51 cases; 56% of confirmed cases (n=23/41) and 40% of probable cases (n=4/10) required hospitalization. Of the cases with serum samples that had HAV sequencing, 83% (n=30/36) had one of the three strains seen circulating in outbreaks among MSM internationally; 72% (n=26/36) were VRD_521_2016, which had been detected in recently reported European outbreaks among MSM. Targeted promotion of publicly-funded vaccination using social media platforms popular with MSM and targeted vaccine clinics were developed to promote HAV awareness and vaccine uptake among MSM. CONCLUSION: Outbreaks of HAV, attributed to person-to-person transmission of strains of HAV that disproportionately affected MSM and were likely to have been imported from international MSM outbreaks, have now occurred in Canada. Genetic sequencing of HAV, risk factor analysis of cases, monitoring trends of vaccine coverage in high-risk groups and initiation of vaccination campaigns that address barriers to HAV preexposure vaccine coverage in the MSM population may prevent future outbreaks.
Entities:
Keywords:
HAV; MSM; men who have sex with men; outbreak; vaccine promotion
Authors: Patricia Ndumbi; Gudrun S Freidl; Christopher J Williams; Otilia Mårdh; Carmen Varela; Ana Avellón; Ingrid Friesema; Harry Vennema; Kazim Beebeejaun; Siew Lin Ngui; Michael Edelstein; Alison Smith-Palmer; Niamh Murphy; Jonathan Dean; Mirko Faber; Jürgen Wenzel; Mia Kontio; Luise Müller; Sofie Elisabeth Midgley; Lena Sundqvist; Josefine Lundberg Ederth; Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso; Elisabeth Couturier; Sofieke Klamer; Javiera Rebolledo; Vanessa Suin; Stephan W Aberle; Daniela Schmid; Rita De Sousa; Gonçalo Figueiredo Augusto; Valeria Alfonsi; Martina Del Manso; Anna Rita Ciccaglione; Kassiani Mellou; Christos Hadjichristodoulou; Alastair Donachie; Maria-Louise Borg; Maja Sočan; Mario Poljak; Ettore Severi Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2018-08
Authors: D G Regan; J G Wood; C Benevent; H Ali; L Watchirs Smith; P W Robertson; M J Ferson; C K Fairley; B Donovan; M G Law Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2015-11-13 Impact factor: 4.434
Authors: Kevon-Mark Jackman; Derek T Dangerfield; Cui Yang; Maria Trent; Hadi Kharrazi; Renee M Johnson; Carl Latkin Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2020-11-13
Authors: Kevon-Mark P Jackman; Jeremy Kane; Hadi Kharrazi; Renee M Johnson; Carl Latkin Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 5.428