An Apparently Water-Borne Outbreak of Infectious Hepatitis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An outbreak of infectious hepatitis is described in a group of 83 persons, who participated in an U. S. Army-sponsored ski trip to Badgastein in the Austrian Alps, resulting in a total of 16 cases. A thorough epidemiologic investigation was conducted. It was concluded that infection occurred at one hotel through the drinking water supply which had been cross-connected with the utility water system. Introduction of hepatitis virus into the utility supply apparently occurred by contamination from a private sewage disposal system of a nearby hotel, at which a jaundiced guest had resided since shortly before arrival of the party. Control efforts were directed toward early detection of cases through clinical and laboratory screening (bromsulphalein excretion and icterus index) of the group known to have been exposed. Of the 16 cases, 6 were detected through such procedures; in 5 of these there was close correlation between clinical and laboratory evidence. Close contacts of each case were given 3.0 ml gamma globulin; no secondary cases were recognized. Under conditions of known exposure, clinical and laboratory screening of suspects will yield a good proportion of additional cases of infectious hepatitis. Administration of gamma globulin to certain contacts of cases is effective in preventing secondary cases. In general, efforts for the prevention of infectious hepatitis are best directed in the same patterns as those for the prevention of intestinal diseases.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: