News
28 October 2005
Hepatitis A in the Russian Federation
Since 6 September 2005 there have been reports of an outbreak of hepatitis A in the Nizhniy Novgorod region, in the Russian Federation [1, 2]. The total area of the region exceeds 200 sq.miles. The city of Nizhniy Novgorod, 250 miles east of Moscow, is at the confluence of the Oka and the Volga rivers. With a population of 1.4 million it is the third largest city in Russia.
As of 25 October 2005 a total of 2,259 cases have been reported, mostly in the city of Nizhniy Novgorod, but also in Balakhna and Dzerzhinsk, to the north and west of Nizhniy Novgorod respectively. About 15% of the cases have been in children under the age of 14. There have been no deaths. The source of the outbreak has not been conclusively determined. It has been variously reported as being due to a delay in the repair of a network of cold water pipes, a defect in the sewer system, a defect in the hot water system, and spread by person to person.
Attempts by the local authorities to control the outbreak include vaccination of more than 69,000 residents; closure of shops; studies of water quality and microbiology; monitoring of food produce and markets and sewage treatment plants; and the state of facilities for provision of potable water.
Recommendations for travellers
Hepatitis A transmission, together with many other infections, is associated with the consumption of contaminated food or liquids. Travellers are reminded of the importance of seeking health advice before travelling overseas, practicing food and water hygiene precautions, as well as receiving appropriate vaccinations. Given the scale of the current outbreak, travellers visiting this region of Russia should consider receiving hepatitis A vaccine.
References
1. International Society for Infectious Diseases. Hepatitis A - Russia
(Nizhniy Novgorod). 24 Oct 2005. ProMed Mail. Online Resource, accessed 28 October 2005.
http://www.promedmail.org/pls/promed/
f?p=2400:1001:16448047482289525499::NO::
F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_
2. EpiNorth. On the sanitary-epidemiological situation in the Russian Federation. 25 October 2005. Online resource, accessed 28 October 2005. http://www.epinorth.org/eway/default0.asp?
pid=230&oid=0&e=0&trg=Area_5328&Main
Area_5260=5328:0::1:0:0:5260;:hepatitis:0:0:
0&Area_5328=5273:45354::1:5326:1:5260;
3. NaTHNaC Clinical Update 24 June 2005 http://www.NaTHNaC.org/pro/clinical_updates/
Links
WHO map of Russian Federation http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map
NaTHNaC Information Sheet Hepatitis A
http://www.NaTHNaC.org/travel/factsheets/hep_a.htm
NaTHNaC Information Sheet Prevention of Food and Water Borne Diseases
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