Foodborne outbreaks are known to occur and have been associated with contamination of ready to eat foods by infected food handlers. Outbreaks have also been linked to food contaminated further upstream in the food production process including:
- shellfish
- fresh and frozen berries
Hepatitis A can also be spread during sexual intercourse and there have been a number of recent outbreaks among men who have sex with men. The infection can also be transmitted through injecting drugs.
Information about the symptoms and managing Hepatitis A infection is available on the NHS inform website.
Guidance
- View the guidance on the Public health control and management of hepatitis A from Public Health (PHE) England.
- Information on the safe handling of food can be found by visiting the Food Standards Scotland website.
- For more information on hepatitis A immunisation, including updates, please refer to the PHE Green Book, Chapter 17.
For all infection prevention and control guidance visit the A-Z pathogens section of the National Infection and Prevention Control Manual.
Data and surveillance
Surveillance report
Data tables
View annual totals for Hepatitis A in the ten-year gastrointestinal and zoonoses data tables.