Some 55 people affected by an epidemic of hepatitis A have been reported by the Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS). This epidemic could be linked to the consumption of frozen sundried tomatoes imported from Turkey and distributed between October 2009 and the end of January 2010. The health watch institute has already undertaken investigations into the epidemic in question.
Of the 55 cases identified, 27 were hospitalized. Nevertheless, “the evolution has been favorable for all”, according to InVS. The symptoms appeared between November 20, 2009 and February 5, 2010. Two major outbreaks were reported in the Hautes-Pyrénées-Pyrénées Atlantiques (19 cases) and in the Lot (15 cases).
The batch of dried tomatoes is currently no longer distributed. However, other cases of hepatitis A could occur through person-to-person transmission.
A disease of viral origin, hepatitis A can cause febrile asthenia, gastroenteritis and the onset of jaundice in adults. Some 1,500 cases of hepatitis A are reported each year.
