An Outbreak Investigation of Acute Hepatitis A in Northern Taiwan, 2016

The Northern Regional Center of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control detected and investigated a workplace cluster of acute hepatitis A in 2016.Three cases, including 2 male and 1 female, were diagnosed as acute hepatitis A infection. The genotypes of the virus isolated were all IA cluster 1, and were 100% identical. In addition to the traditional transmission route of food and environment, the 2 male cases might be transmitted through unprotected sex. An MSM-related hepatitis A cluster extending to workplace setting was highly suspected. Because of medical staffs’ timely report and public health staffs’ aggressive intervention, such as health education and vaccination for the contacts, the cluster was soon under control. Effective preventive and control measures rely on cooperation between public health bureaus and healthcare institutions, early intervention, encouragement of hepatitis A vaccination, and robust disease reporting system.