Locally acquired hepatitis E virus infection, El Paso, Texas

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Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an enterically transmitted RNA virus that causes both epidemic and sporadic cases of acute hepatitis. Despite sero‐surveys showing antibody to HEV in up to 36% of the US population, acute hepatitis E has been reported among individuals with no history of international travel only three times in the United States. We report a case of apparently locally‐acquired hepatitis E that occurred in El Paso, Texas that was 98% similar to a previously isolated HEV found in swine in the United States. Like the three previous cases, a thorough investigation found no conclusive sources of infection. Active case surveillance found no additional cases.J. Med. Virol. 78:741–746, 2006.