Ac. Weltman et al., AN OUTBREAK OF HEPATITIS-A ASSOCIATED WITH A BAKERY, NEW-YORK, 1994 -THE 1968 WEST BRANCH, MICHIGAN OUTBREAK REPEATED, Epidemiology and infection, 117(2), 1996, pp. 333-341
In a community hepatitis A outbreak in the Rochester, New York area, 6
4 of 79 (81%) people with anti-hepatitis A IgM-antibodies and onset of
symptoms from 3 April-31 May 1994, recalled eating food obtained from
a retail buyer's club. Eleven (65%) of 17 households with cases conta
ined club members compared with 7 (21%) of 34 neighbourhood-matched co
ntrol-households (matched odds ratio 8.5; 95% CI 1.7-41.6). Club emplo
yees who ate sugar-glazed baked goods were at fourfold increased risk
for hepatitis, The source of infection was an IgM-positive baker who c
ontaminated baked goods while applying sugar glaze. Computer-generated
purchase lists implicated 11-12 March and 21-24 March as the most lik
ely dates when contamination occurred. This investigation demonstrates
the importance of food workers adhering to established hygiene practi
ces. Computer-generated commercial datasets can be useful in epidemiol
ogic investigations.