HPR volume 11 issue 17: news (12 May)
Updated 15 December 2017
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1. Hepatitis A outbreak in England under investigation
Public Health England is investigating a hepatitis A outbreak predominantly affecting men who have sex with men. Between July 2016 and 2 April 2017, 266 cases associated with the outbreak had been identified in England. At least 74% of these were among MSM, and 63% of cases were in London. There is evidence that there have been some cases in the wider population linked to the outbreak.
A high proportion of cases likely acquired the infection abroad at the beginning of the outbreak, but transmission now mainly occurs in England. The outbreak comprises three concurrently-circulating genotype Ia strains, previously not seen in England. Hepatitis A outbreaks caused by the same strains are concurrently occurring in 12 European countries and elsewhere in the UK outside of England [1,2].
As part of the outbreak response, PHE together with the British Association for Sexual health and HIV have recommended that MSM with one or more new or casual partner in the last three months are opportunistically vaccinated in GUM clinics at their next appointment. In addition, pop-up vaccination clinics have been set up around gay venues in London. PHE is considering wider vaccination strategies to respond this outbreak, which is occurring in the context of a global shortage of hepatitis A vaccine.
See the PDF version of this report for the epidemiological curve depicting the outbreak.
1.1 Reference
- ECDC (December 2016). Rapid risk assessment: hepatitis A outbreaks in the EU/EEA mostly affecting men who have sex with men.
- Beebeejaun K, Degala S, Balogun K, Simms I, Woodhall SC, Heinsbroek E, et al (2017). Outbreak of hepatitis A associated with men who have sex with men (MSM), England, July 2016 to January 2017. Euro. Surveill. 22(5), 2 February.
2. Infection reports in this issue of HPR
The following infection reports are published in this issue of HPR. The links below are to the relevant webpage collections or publications.
- Scarlet fever/GAS: third update on seasonal activity 2016/17
- Common animal associated infections (England and Wales): first quarter 2017
- Laboratory reports of respiratory infections made to PHE from PHE and NHS laboratories in England and Wales: weeks 14 to 17, 2017
- General outbreaks of foodborne illness in humans, England and Wales: weeks 14-17/2017.
- Salmonella infections (faecal specimens, England and Wales), reports to PHE: March-April 2017.
- Common GI infections (England and Wales), laboratory reports: weeks 14-17/2017.
- Less common pathogens: weeks 1/1/2017 - 31/3/2017.
- Suspected and laboratory-confirmed reported norovirus outbreaks in hospitals: outbreaks occurring in weeks 14 to 17, 2017.