Hepatitis A outbreak associated with consumption of dates, England and Wales, January 2021 to April 2021
Tatiana Garcia Vilaplana, David Leeman, Koye Balogun, Siew Lin Ngui, Emily Phipps, Wazirzada M Khan, Incident Team, Sooria Balasegaram
Abstract
We report a national hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak linked to the consumption of Medjool dates. Twenty-nine cases of three genetically related sequences have been identified. Epidemiological investigations identified a suspected product (adjusted odds ratio: 47.36; 95% confidence interval: 1.79-1,256.07; p = 0.021). Microbiological testing has confirmed the presence of HAV on dates recovered from two cases and the product has been recalled. Date consumption is currently likely to be increased in connection with Ramadan, with potential ongoing contamination risk.
Topics & Concepts
OutbreakEpidemiologyMedicineOdds ratioHepatitis AConfidence intervalHepatitis a virusEnvironmental healthVirologyConsumption (sociology)DemographyHepatitisInternal medicineVirusSocial scienceSociologyHepatitis Viruses Studies and EpidemiologyTravel-related health issuesSalmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology