Hepatitis A outbreak linked to imported frozen strawberries by sequencing, Sweden and Austria, June to September 2018

Euro Surveill. 2018 Oct;23(41):1800528. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.41.1800528.

Abstract

Between June-September 2018, 20 hepatitis A cases were notified in six counties in Sweden. Combined epidemiological and microbiological investigations identified imported frozen strawberries produced in Poland as the source of the outbreak. Sequence analysis confirmed the outbreak strain IB in the strawberries with 100 % identity and the respective batch was withdrawn. Sharing the sequence information internationally led to the identification of 14 additional cases in Austria, linked to strawberries from the same producer.

Keywords: Austria; Disease Outbreaks; Europe; Foodborne Diseases; Genotype; Hepatitis A virus; Sequence Analysis; Sweden.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Food Contamination
  • Foodborne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Foodborne Diseases / virology*
  • Fragaria / virology*
  • Frozen Foods / virology
  • Fruit / virology*
  • Genotype
  • Hepatitis A / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis A / transmission
  • Hepatitis A / virology
  • Hepatitis A virus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis A virus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis
  • Sweden / epidemiology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral