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An outbreak of hepatitis A amongst injecting drug users

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2002

D. O’DONOVAN ,
R. P. D. COOKE ,
R. JOCE ,
A. EASTBURY ,
J. WAITE  and
K. STENE-JOHANSEN
D. O’DONOVAN
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, East Sussex, Brighton Hove Health Authority, Friars Walk, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2PB
R. P. D. COOKE
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2UD
R. JOCE
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, East Sussex, Brighton Hove Health Authority, Friars Walk, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2PB
A. EASTBURY
Affiliation:
Health & Housing Department, Eastbourne Borough Council, 68 Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4UH
J. WAITE
Affiliation:
Community Drugs Team, 25 Bedfordwell Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2BQ
K. STENE-JOHANSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health N-0403, Oslo, Norway
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Abstract

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This descriptive study investigated an outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) and their contacts. Twenty-seven cases of acute HAV infection were identified in a 5-month period. Connections with the local injecting drug using (IDU) population were established for 25 of the cases of whom 14 admitted to injecting drug use. HAV RNA genotyping revealed two HAV variants, closely related to variants found in Scandinavian IDUs and in South East Asia. The study demonstrates that once HAV enters the IDU population extensive outbreaks are possible. We recommend that all IDUs should be tested for HAV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and offered combined hepatitis A and B vaccines if non-immune.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 127 , Issue 3 , December 2001 , pp. 469 - 473
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press