Hepatitis A Outbreak in Europe: Imported Frozen Berry Mix Suspected to be the Source of At least One Infection in Austria in 2013

Food Environ Virol. 2014 Dec;6(4):297-300. doi: 10.1007/s12560-014-9165-1. Epub 2014 Sep 3.

Abstract

We tested 19 sera from Austrian patients with acute hepatitis A. A serum from a 48-year-old female patient yielded HAV-nucleic acid that showed 99.7% homology to the HAV-sequence obtained from samples taken during the current outbreak in several European countries, which is associated with consumption of frozen berries. So far, Austria was considered not to be affected by this hepatitis A outbreak.

Keywords: Berries; Genotyping; Hepatitis A; Outbreak.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Foodborne Diseases / blood
  • Foodborne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Foodborne Diseases / virology*
  • Frozen Foods / virology*
  • Fruit / virology*
  • Hepatitis A / blood
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis A / transmission
  • Hepatitis A / virology*
  • Hepatitis A Virus, Human / classification
  • Hepatitis A Virus, Human / genetics
  • Hepatitis A Virus, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Hepatitis A Virus, Human / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Typing
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • RNA, Viral