Hepatitis E in a food handler – a rapid risk assessment to guide the public health response

Authors

  • Ranil Appuhamy Health Protection Service, Australian Capital Territory Health, Canberra, Australia
  • Cameron Moffatt OzFoodNet, Communicable Disease Control Section, Health Protection Service, Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Australia
  • Stephanie Davis Master of Philosophy (Applied Epidemiology) Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
  • Paul Kelly Population Health Division, Australian Capital Territory Health Directorate and Australian National University Medical School, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  • Karina Kennedy Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canberra Hospital and Health Services, Canberra, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2014.5.3.003

Abstract

Objective: The Australian Capital Territory Health Directorate was notified of a food handler with hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. To guide the public health response, a rapid risk assessment was undertaken to determine the risk of transmission of HEV from the infected food handler to restaurant patrons.

Method: The literature on HEV was reviewed and expert advice sought from clinical and public health specialists. This was supplemented by results of a site investigation and a case interview. The risk rating was determined to be the product of the likelihood of transmission and the consequence of the infection.

Results: The food handler was likely to have been infectious at the time he was working at the restaurant. He had handled high-risk foods, and the site inspection revealed potential opportunities for transmission. HEV is not common in Australia and it was assumed that the population was non-immune and hence susceptible to the disease. Therefore, there was a low but possible likelihood of transmission of HEV. If infected, HEV has the potential for major consequences in vulnerable populations especially among women who are pregnant. The overall level of risk was considered to be very high.

Discussion: The general public and health practitioners were alerted to enable early identification of symptoms and prompt disease management. There were no secondary cases of HEV associated with this event. In the absence of published guidelines and limited evidence, a risk assessment framework was a useful tool to inform public health decision-making.

Author Biographies

Ranil Appuhamy, Health Protection Service, Australian Capital Territory Health, Canberra, Australia

Public Health Physician, Health Protection Service, ACT Health, Canberra, Australia

Stephanie Davis, Master of Philosophy (Applied Epidemiology) Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Lecturer, Master of Philosophy (Applied Epidemiology) Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Karina Kennedy, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canberra Hospital and Health Services, Canberra, Australia

Karina Kennedy, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canberra Hospital and Health Services, Canberra, Australia

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Published

30-10-2014

How to Cite

1.
Appuhamy R, Moffatt C, Davis S, Kelly P, Kennedy K. Hepatitis E in a food handler – a rapid risk assessment to guide the public health response. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2014 Oct. 30 [cited 2026 Mar. 23];5(4). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/276

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2014): October – December

Section

Risk Assessment

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