Outbreak of hepatitis A associated with men who have sex with men (MSM), England, July 2016 to January 2017

Euro Surveill. 2017 Feb 2;22(5):30454. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.5.30454.

Abstract

Between July 2016 and January 2017, 37 confirmed cases of hepatitis A with two unique IA genotype strains primarily among men who have sex with men, were reported across eight areas in England and Northern Ireland. Epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicate that these strains may have been imported several times from Spain, with secondary sexual transmission in the United Kingdom. Local and national public health services are collaborating to control this ongoing outbreak.

Keywords: England; MSM; Spain; hepatitis A; outbreaks; sexually transmitted infections.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Contact Tracing
  • Disease Notification
  • Disease Outbreaks* / prevention & control
  • England / epidemiology
  • Genotype
  • Hepatitis A / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis A / virology
  • Hepatitis A virus / classification
  • Hepatitis A virus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis A virus / isolation & purification*
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Ireland / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Population Surveillance
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spain
  • Travel

Substances

  • RNA, Viral