Abstract
In late 2016 and early 2017, a number of countries began reporting hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreaks involving person-to-person transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM), people using illicit drugs and homeless or underhoused persons. To describe the epidemiology and public health response to an outbreak of HAV disproportionately affecting MSM in Toronto, Canada from January 2017 to November 2018. Following an increase in the number of cases of HAV in MSM being reported in other countries, enhanced surveillance was performed for all non-travel-related cases of HAV reported from June 1, 2017 to November 1, 2018, including a retrospective analysis of cases reported from January 2017 to June 2017. Descriptive analysis and viral sequencing were performed to describe person-to-person transmission patterns and target interventions. Control strategies included interventions to promote the uptake of preexposure HAV vaccination, including social media campaigns geared to MSM, messaging to healthcare providers and vaccine clinics. Based on the outbreak case definitions, 52 confirmed and probable cases of HAV were identified. Over 80% of outbreak cases were male (n=43/52) and, among those for whom data were available, 64% (n=25/39) reported an MSM exposure. Data on hospitalization was available for 51 cases; 56% of confirmed cases (n=23/41) and 40% of probable cases (n=4/10) required hospitalization. Of the cases with serum samples that had HAV sequencing, 83% (n=30/36) had one of the three strains seen circulating in outbreaks among MSM internationally; 72% (n=26/36) were VRD_521_2016, which had been detected in recently reported European outbreaks among MSM. Targeted promotion of publicly-funded vaccination using social media platforms popular with MSM and targeted vaccine clinics were developed to promote HAV awareness and vaccine uptake among MSM. Outbreaks of HAV, attributed to person-to-person transmission of strains of HAV that disproportionately affected MSM and were likely to have been imported from international MSM outbreaks, have now occurred in Canada. Genetic sequencing of HAV, risk factor analysis of cases, monitoring trends of vaccine coverage in high-risk groups and initiation of vaccination campaigns that address barriers to HAV preexposure vaccine coverage in the MSM population may prevent future outbreaks.
Highlights
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is endemic in developing countries and is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in travellers [1]
Of the cases with serum samples that had hepatitis A virus (HAV) sequencing, 83% (n=30/36) had one of the three strains seen circulating in outbreaks among men who have sex with men (MSM) internationally; 72% (n=26/36) were VRD_521_2016, which had been detected in recently reported European outbreaks among MSM
Outbreaks of HAV, attributed to person-to-person transmission of strains of HAV that disproportionately affected MSM and were likely to have been imported from international MSM outbreaks, have occurred in Canada
Summary
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is endemic in developing countries and is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in travellers [1]. Clinical disease results after a 15–50 day incubation period and typically begins with an abrupt onset of fever, nausea and abdominal pain, followed by jaundice [2]. The primary source of HAV is contaminated food or water, but person-to person transmission has been documented, through sexual anal-oral or digital-anal contact. Men who have sex with men (MSM) have been identified as a higher risk group for person-to-person HAV transmission [4]. In late 2016 and early 2017, a number of countries began reporting hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreaks involving person-to-person transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM), people using illicit drugs and homeless or underhoused persons
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