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An outbreak of hepatitis A associated with a bakery, New York, 1994: The 1968 ‘West Branch, Michigan’ outbreak repeated

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

A. C. Weltman ,
N. M. Bennett ,
D. A. Ackman ,
J. H. Misage ,
J. J. Campana ,
L. S. Fine ,
A. S. Doniger ,
G. J. Balzano  and
G. S. Birkhead
A. C. Weltman*
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service and Division of Field Epidemiology, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, NY State Dept. of Health, Albany, NY
N. M. Bennett
Affiliation:
Monroe County Health Department, Rochester, NY
D. A. Ackman
Affiliation:
Epidemic Intelligence Service and Division of Field Epidemiology, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, NY State Dept. of Health, AlbanyNY
J. H. Misage
Affiliation:
Monroe County Health Department, Rochester, NY
J. J. Campana
Affiliation:
Monroe County Health Department, Rochester, NY
L. S. Fine
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
A. S. Doniger
Affiliation:
Monroe County Health Department, Rochester, NY
G. J. Balzano
Affiliation:
Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, NY State Dept. of Health, Buffalo, NY
G. S. Birkhead
Affiliation:
Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, NY State Dept. of Health, AlbanyNY Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York
*
* C. Weltman, Pennsylvania State Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology – Rm. 909, P.O. Box 90, Harrisburg, PA 17108, USA.
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In a community hepatitis A outbreak in the Rochester, New York area, 64 of 79 (81 %) people with anti-hepatitis A 1gM-antibodies and onset of symptoms from 9 April–31 May 1994, recalled eating food obtained from a retail buyer's club. Eleven (65%) of 17 households with cases contained club members compared with 7 (21%) of 34 neighbourhood-matched control-households (matched odds ratio 8·5; 95% CI 1·7–41·6). Club employees who ate sugar-glazed baked goods were at fourfold increased risk for hepatitis. The source of infection was an 1gM- positive baker who contaminated baked goods while applying sugar glaze. Computer-generated purchase lists implicated 11–12 March and 21–24 March as the most likely dates when contamination occurred. This investigation demonstrates the importance of food workers adhering to established hygiene practices. Computer-generated commercial datasets can be useful in epidemiologic investigations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 117 , Issue 2 , October 1996 , pp. 333 - 341
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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