title: An outbreak of hepatitis A in Southern Italy: the case for vaccinating food handlers.
abstract: We report an outbreak of hepatitis A that occurred in the city of Bari (Apulian region) in June 2002. Overall, 26 cases were observed over a 4-week period. These were traced back to the index case, a food handler who prepared various food products for sale over the counter at a store in the district (OR 5.36, CI 95% 1.58-19.25). Laboratory investigations confirmed that the outbreak was due to a point source and identified a new genotype IB variant. There is a possible indication for administration of hepatitis A vaccine to food handlers, although further evidence of an acceptable cost-benefit ratio needs to be ascertained.
authors.affiliation: University of Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lopalco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chironna
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Germinario
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quarto
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005511:Food Handling; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines