Epidemiology and Health

Epidemiologic Investigation

An outbreak of hepatitis A associated with salted clams in Busan, Korea: Hyunjin Son, Miyoung Lee, Youngduck Eun, Wonseo Park, Kyounghee Park, Sora Kwon, Seungjin Kim, Changhoon Kim; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022003. Published online December 29, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022003

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In July 2019, there were multiple reports on patients with hepatitis A among the visitors of a restaurant in Busan. The current study presents the results of an epidemiological investigation and outlines the supplementary measures that would help with hepatitis A control.

METHODS

A cohort study was conducted for all 2,865 customers who visited restaurant A from June to July. Using a standardized questionnaire, participants reported the presence of hepatitis A symptoms and whether they had consumed any of 19 food items. As for participants who had visited public health centers, their specimens were collected.

RESULTS

From the study cohort, 155 participants (5.4%) had confirmed hepatitis A. The epidemic curve was unimodal, and the median number of days from the restaurant visit to symptom onset was 31 days. A genotype analysis indicated that 89 of 90 tested patients had hepatitis A virus (HAV) genotype 1A. The results of a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the ingestion of salted clams increased the risk of hepatitis A by 68.12 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.22 to 510.87). In an unopened package of salted clams found and secured through traceback investigation, HAV genotype 1A was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

To prevent people from ingesting uncooked clams, there needs to be more efforts to publicize the dangers of uncooked clams; the food sampling test standards for salted clams should also be expanded. Furthermore, a laboratory surveillance system based on molecular genetics should be established to detect outbreaks earlier.

Summary

Korean summary
2019년 7월, 부산시의 한 식당을 방문한 사람에서 다수의 A형간염 환자가 신고되었다. 2019년 6월 1일부터 7월 28일까지 해당 식당을 방문하여 카드 결제를 한 사람과 동반자 2,865명 전체를 대상으로 코호트 조사를 수행하였다. A형간염에 확진 된 사람은 총 155명으로 발병률은 5.4%였다. 다변량 로지스틱 회귀분석 결과 조개젓 섭취는 A형간염 발병 위험을 68.62배(95% CI, 9.22 to 510.87) 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 익히지 않은 조개류를 섭취하지 않도록 더욱 홍보를 강화해야 한다.

Key Message
In July 2019, there were multiple reports on patients with hepatitis A among the visitors of a restaurant in Bu¬san. A cohort study was conducted for all 2,865 customers who visited the restaurant from June to July. From the study cohort, 155 participants (5.4%) had confirmed hepatitis A. The results of a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the ingestion of salted clams increased the risk of hepatitis A by 68.12 times. To prevent people from ingesting uncooked clams, there needs to be more efforts to publicize the dangers of uncooked clams.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Gender differences in hepatitis A seropositivity rates according to the Republic of Korea’s vaccination policy
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Investigating the spatio-temporal variation of hepatitis A in Korea using a Bayesian model
Jaehong Jeong, Mijeong Kim, Jungsoon Choi
Frontiers in Public Health.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
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International Journal of Biometeorology.2022; 66(9): 1725. CrossRef

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