An outbreak of acute hepatitis A infection in rural Saudi Arabia.
In areas of hyperendemicity of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, acquisition of immunity occurs relatively early in life. In such populations epidemic outbreaks are rare. A recent HAV infection outbreak occurred in the Al-Dahnah district in Saudi Arabia. In thirty day period, 23 children and adolescents were diagnosed by clinical examination. 19 of these were positive for IgM anti-HAV. Concomitant acute infections with the Epstein Bar Virus (EBV) was documented in 4 of these patients. A limited epidemiological survey suggested that the source of infection might have been a contamination of one of the tankers which delivered water supplies to the various houses. In a transitional period of development the rapid improvement in socio economic status and standards of living may increase the susceptible pool. Therefore a greater surveillance is needed to identify and contain such possible outbreaks.
al-Majed
S A
SA
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bakir
T M
TM
al-Aska
A
A
Ayoola
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012529:Saudi Arabia