A Multi-jurisdictional outbreak of hepatitis A related to a youth camp - implications for catering operations and mass gatherings.

Authors

  • Sally A Munnoch OzFoodNet NSW Hunter Population Health, Locked mailbag 19, Wallsend NSW 2287; Public and Environmental Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania; Master of Applied Epidemiology Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • Rosie H Ashbolt Public and Environmental Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania; OzFoodNet, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • David J Coleman Public and Environmental Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
  • Nerissa Walton Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services, Darwin, Northern Territory
  • Mary Y Beers-Deeble Master of Applied Epidemiology Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • Roscoe Taylor Public and Environmental Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2004.28.61

Keywords:

hepatitis A, camp, multi-jurisdictional, catering operations, mass gatherings

Abstract

In June 2003, Australian state and territory health departments were notified of an outbreak of Hepatitis A in people who had attended a five-day youth camp. Approximately 350 people attended the event in Central Australia between 24 and 28 April 2003. The public health investigation comprised of case identification, food handler interviews, an environmental health investigation of the campground and associated food premises, laboratory analysis of blood specimens and food/water samples, and an epidemiological study. Twenty-one cases fitted the case definition for the outbreak. A retrospective cohort study involving four states was conducted, with 213 people interviewed. Coleslaw and cordial were significantly associated with illness, however when the two exposures were adjusted for each other to account for confounding, only coleslaw remained significantly associated with illness (adjusted RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.09 – 5.77). The investigation highlighted a number of food hygiene and safety issues relating to the catering of mass gatherings. Implementation of food safety programs in these settings are likely to reduce the occurrence of such outbreaks. The recent proposal by Food Standards Australia New Zealand to mandate food safety programs for catering operations is supported. Commun Dis Intell 2004;28:521–527.

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References

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Published

31/12/04

How to Cite

Munnoch, Sally A, Rosie H Ashbolt, David J Coleman, Nerissa Walton, Mary Y Beers-Deeble, and Roscoe Taylor. 2004. “A Multi-Jurisdictional Outbreak of Hepatitis A Related to a Youth Camp - Implications for Catering Operations and Mass Gatherings”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 28 (December):521-27. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2004.28.61.

Issue

Vol. 28 (2004)

Section

Original article

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Copyright (c) 2004 Communicable Diseases Intelligence

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