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Hepatitis A outbreak involving bread.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

A. R. E Warburton ,
T. G. Wreghitt ,
A. Rampling ,
R. Buttery ,
K. N. Ward ,
K. R Perry  and
J. V Parry
A. R. E Warburton
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, CB1 5BF.
T. G. Wreghitt*
Affiliation:
Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QW.
A. Rampling
Affiliation:
Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QW.
R. Buttery
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, CB1 5BF.
K. N. Ward
Affiliation:
Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QW.
K. R Perry
Affiliation:
Virus Reference Laboratory,Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue,London, NW9 5H.
J. V Parry
Affiliation:
Virus Reference Laboratory,Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue,London, NW9 5H.
*
* Correspondence to: Dr T. G. Wreghitt, Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QW.
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Summary

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An outbreak of hepatitis A involved more than 50 residents of a group of villages in the late spring and summer of 1989. The only food that was common to all the laboratory-confirmed cases was bread, purchased either unwrapped or as rolls, sandwiches or filled rolls, and supplied either directly from one shop or indirectly through its subsidiary outlets. It was concluded that this bread was the most likely vehicle of transmission of the hepatitis A virus and that the bread was contaminated by soiled hands which were inadequately washed because of painful skin lesions. Comprehensive control measures were successful in limiting further spread of the infection. This outbreak highlights the transmissibility of hepatitis A virus on food. The use of disposable gloves when handling food which is to be consumed without further cooking would prevent transmission of this or other infectious agents by this route.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 106 , Issue 1 , February 1991 , pp. 199 - 202
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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