title: Hepatitis A outbreak associated with kava drinking.
abstract: Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), with transmission occurring through the faecal-oral route. In May 2013, a case of hepatitis A infection was reported to a Western Australian regional public health unit, with infection acquired in Fiji. Following this, 2 further cases were linked to the index case by kava drinking and 1 further case was a household contact of a secondary case. This outbreak highlights that the preparation of kava drink and/or the use of a common drinking vessel could be a vehicle for the transmission of HAV.
authors.affiliation: Senior Public Health Nurse, Western Australian Country Health Service, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Jo-Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Senior Medical Officer, Western Australian Country Health Service, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Kurien
authors.affiliation: Public Health Physician, Western Australian Country Health Service, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huppatz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001628:Beverages / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D018563:Disease Notification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020901:Kava / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology