Hepatitis A Cases Among Food Handlers: A Local Health Department Response—New York City, 2013. Issue 6 (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ridpath, Alison; Reddy, Vasudha; Layton, Marcelle; Misener, Mark; Scaccia, Allison; Starr, David; Stavinsky, Faina; Varma, Jay K.; Waechter, HaeNa; Zucker, Jane R.; Balter, Sharon
• Is Part Of: Journal of public health management and practice. Volume 23:Issue 6(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: food handlers -- hepatitis A -- New York City -- outbreak; Public health administration -- United States -- Periodicals; 253.6
• DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000526
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-4659

Abstract

Abstract : During 2013, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) received reports of 6 hepatitis A cases among food handlers. We describe our decision-making process for public notification, type of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) offered, and lessons learned. For 3 cases, public notification was issued and DOHMH offered only hepatitis A vaccine as PEP. Subsequent outbreaks resulted from 1 case for which no public notification was issued or PEP offered, and 1 for which public notification was issued and PEP was offered too late. DOHMH continues to use environmental assessments to guide public notification decisions and offer only hepatitis A vaccine as PEP after public notification but recognizes the need to evaluate each situation individually. The PEP strategy employed by DOHMH should be considered because hepatitis A vaccine is immunogenic in all age groups, can be obtained by local jurisdictions more quickly, and is logistically easier to administer in mass clinics than immunoglobulin.