Locally acquired hepatitis E virus infection, El Paso, Texas.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an enterically transmitted RNA virus that causes both epidemic and sporadic cases of acute hepatitis. Despite sero-surveys showing antibody to HEV in up to 36% of the US population, acute hepatitis E has been reported among individuals with no history of international travel only three times in the United States. We report a case of apparently locally-acquired hepatitis E that occurred in El Paso, Texas that was 98% similar to a previously isolated HEV found in swine in the United States. Like the three previous cases, a thorough investigation found no conclusive sources of infection. Active case surveillance found no additional cases.
Amon
Joseph J
JJ
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. joe_j_amon@yahoo.com
Drobeniuc
Jan
J
Bower
William A
WA
Magaña
Jorge C
JC
Escobedo
Miguel A
MA
Williams
Ian T
IT
Bell
Beth P
BP
Armstrong
Gregory L
GL
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D013781:Texas