Two concurrent outbreaks of hepatitis A highlight the risk of infection for non-immune travellers to Morocco, January to June 2018

From January to June 2018, two ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks affected travellers returning from Morocco and cases in Europe without travel history, resulting in 163 patients in eight European countries. Most interviewed travel-related cases were unaware of the hepatitis A risk in Morocco. Molecular...

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Authors: Gassowski, Martyna; Michaelis, Kai; Wenzel, Jürgen J; Faber, Mirko; Figoni, Julie; Mouna, Lina; Friesema, Ingrid; Vennema, Harry; Avellón, Ana; Varela, Carmen; Sundqvist, Lena; Lundberg Ederth, Josefine; Plunkett, James; Balogun, Koye; Ngui, Siew Lin; Midgley, Sofie Elisabeth; Gillesberg Lassen, Sofie; Müller, Luise
Format: Article
Publication date:2018
Country:España
Institution:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repository:Repisalud
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/8983
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/8983
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Adult
Europe
Female
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A virus
Humans
Male
Morocco
Vaccination
Disease Outbreaks
Travel
Summary:From January to June 2018, two ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks affected travellers returning from Morocco and cases in Europe without travel history, resulting in 163 patients in eight European countries. Most interviewed travel-related cases were unaware of the hepatitis A risk in Morocco. Molecular analysis revealed two distinct hepatitis A virus (HAV) strains (subgenotype IA DK2018_231; subgenotype IB V18-16428). Vaccination recommendations should be emphasised to increase awareness among non-immune travellers to Morocco and HAV-endemic countries.

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