Hepatitis A outbreak in Ba subdivision, Fiji, October–December 2013
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
;
: 32-36, 2015.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-6770
ABSTRACT
Objective:
A cluster of suspected hepatitis A cases was notified to the Fiji Ministry of Health on 22 October 2013. An outbreak investigation team was mobilized to confirm the existence of an outbreak of hepatitis A and advise appropriate public health interventions.Methods:
A case definition for the outbreak investigation was established, and standardized data collection tools were used to collect information on clinical presentation and risk factors. An environmental assessment was also conducted.Results:
There were 160 clinical cases of hepatitis A of which 15 were laboratory-confirmed. The attack rate was 349 per 10 000 population in the Nukuloa nursing zone; there were no reported deaths. Residents of the Nukuloa settlement were 6.6 times more likely to present with symptomatic hepatitis A infection (95% confidence interval 3.8–12.6) compared with residents of another village with a different water supply.Discussion:
This is the first significant hepatitis A outbreak documented in Ba subdivision and possibly in Fiji. Enhanced surveillance of hepatitis A may reveal other clusters in the country. Improving the primary water source dramatically reduced the occurance of disease in the affected community and adjacent areas.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Type of study:
Risk factors
Language:
English
Journal:
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
Year:
2015
Type:
Article
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