An outbreak of foodborne hepatitis A in a factory: a possible shift in age of patients in Japan.
We investigated extensively an outbreak of hepatitis A at a factory in suburban Nagoya. Epidemiological study indicated a foodborne outbreak by a supplier of lunches. Serologically, all the employees younger than 30 years of age had been susceptible to hepatitis A virus, but the highest morbidity was observed in the 40-44 age group. The age difference in morbidity from foodborne hepatitis and susceptible populations suggests a shift in mean patient age linked to a shift in antibody prevalence to hepatitis A virus. In communities where the prevalence started shifting after development of sanitary systems, effective prophylaxis for foodborne hepatitis A will be necessary to prevent the disease in an increasing number of older patients in a few decades.
Hayashi
H
H
Department of Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Yagi
A
A
Ichimiya
H
H
Higuchi
T
T
Fuji
A
A
Kakumu
S
S
Sakamoto
N
N
Kato
S
S
Kato
H
H
Mori
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005506:Food Contamination; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies