Ongoing outbreaks of hepatitis A among men who have sex with men (MSM), Berlin, November 2016 to January 2017 - linked to other German cities and European countries

Euro Surveill. 2017 Feb 2;22(5):30457. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.5.30457.

Abstract

Since 14 November 2016, 38 cases of hepatitis A have been notified in Berlin; of these, 37 were male and 30 reported to have sex with men (MSM). Median age of MSM cases is 31 years (range: 24-52 years). Phylogenetic analysis revealed three distinct sequences, linking cases in Berlin to those in other German cities and to clusters recognised in other European countries in 2016.

Keywords: Hepatitis A; Sexually transmitted infection; men who have sex with men; molecular subtyping; outbreak.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Berlin / epidemiology
  • Cities
  • Disease Notification / statistics & numerical data
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Hepatitis A / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis A / virology
  • Hepatitis A virus / classification*
  • Hepatitis A virus / genetics
  • Homosexuality, Male*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phylogeny
  • Sentinel Surveillance*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Young Adult