OUTBREAK OF HEPATITIS A IN TERENGGANU JAN - DEC 2000

Abstract

In August 2000, the Disease Control Unit of Terengganu noted an increase in the number of serologically confirmed cases of hepatitis A virus (HA V) in Kuala Terengganu Hospital. Preliminary investigation revealed that there were an outbreak of hepatitis A in districts of Kuala Terengganu and Marang. Eventually, a total of 334 associated cases were reported among Kuala Terengganu residents and 59 cases among residents of Marang. The age of the patients range from 2 years to 71 years old (median 16 years). Males accounted for 69.5% of cases and had a higher sex specific attack rate (96.35/100,000) than females (42.70/100, 000). The highest attack rate (128.3/100,000) occurred among patients aged 10 - 14 years. The health staff of Kuala Terengganu and Marang District Health Office had investigated a total of 229 case. Most cases (62.4%) occurred amongst school children. A case control study was carried out amongst 35 cases that were matched with 71 controls by age group, class and sex, to identify the potential source of infection. The results indicated that eating fried noodle with shellfish significantly increased the risk of being infected during the outbreak (OR 16.38[ 4.21-74.53]).