Family Cluster of Indigenous Acute Hepatitis A in Taipei Region, Taiwan, 2015-2016

Family Cluster of Indigenous Acute Hepatitis A in Taipei Region, Taiwan, 2015-2016

Taipei Regional Center, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC) confirmed two family clusters of indigenous acute hepatitis A infection in Xindian District, New Taipei City occurred in July 2015 and March 2016, respectively. The genotype of hepatitis A virus in the former cluster was IA cluster 1 (genetic similarity: 94.5% to 99.5%) and in the latter cluster was IA Cluster 4 (genetic similarity: 94.6% to 100%). The two index cases had history of sexually transmitted diseases, suggesting that the index cases in both clusters were likely infected because of unsafe sex, and then transmitted to their household contacts. We recommend that health authorities should monitor the health status on close contacts of confirmed cases regularly, implement preventive measures timely, provide health education and urge those who do not have hepatitis A antibodies to receive 2 doses of self-paid hepatitis A vaccine in order to lower the risk of infection.