CHO Health Alert: Hepatitis A outbreak

CHO Health Alert: Hepatitis A outbreak

23 March, 2018

Alert title

Status: Active

Date issued: - update of alert issued 6 March 2018

Issued by: Dr Finn Romanes, Acting Deputy Chief Health Officer, Victoria

Issued to: Health professionals and general public

Key messages

  • There has been a confirmed case of hepatitis A in a food handler who worked while infectious at Cumulus Inc. restaurant, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
  • Any person who ate food - especially uncooked food - at Cumulus Inc. between 26 February and 19 March 2018 may be at risk of hepatitis A infection and should attend their GP for a free hepatitis A vaccine, and should look out for the symptoms of hepatitis A between 15 to 50 days after the exposure.
  • Cases of hepatitis A continue to rise in Victoria with one death confirmed as part of the outbreak. There are now 68 confirmed outbreak cases, seven probable cases and one death. An additional 14 cases of hepatitis A are under early investigation.
  • Of the 68 confirmed cases, most are male, many of whom report male-to-male sexual activity and have not travelled overseas, and some have identified as people who inject drugs (PWID).
  • Offer free hepatitis A vaccine to all men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who have injected drugs in the past 12 months, and to any person who ate food from Cumulus Inc. during that period. The two-dose hepatitis A vaccination is free for all MSM and PWID until 31 December 2018.
  • Consider hepatitis A infection in patients presenting with a compatible clinical illness who are MSM, PWID or have other risk factors (including eating at Cumulus Inc. between 26 February and 19 March 2018), and take blood for serology (IgM). Advise that sexual activity should be avoided whilst results are pending.
  • Notify all suspected cases of acute viral hepatitis without waiting for serology results to the Department by calling 1300 651 160.

 Read the full alert: Hepatits A outbreak

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