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Traces of hepatitis A discovered on a light switch
There was a major outbreak of hepatitis A in Dummerstorf, in the Rostock district. As the district explained on its home page, a bakery should be at the center of the spread of the infection. 23 infections had been confirmed as of noon on Friday. Three test results are still pending. The health department is now trying to prevent more infections.
The contagion probably came from the bakery employee
Rostock district announced that Hepatitis A RNA was detected in a sample from a light switch. This confirms the initial suspicion that the source of infection for the hepatitis A outbreak is a disease affecting the branch staff. The bakery employees are released and will now be examined more closely. The bakery was initially closed by the food control office.
Apparently, the virus was apparently able to spread unhindered at the branch because employees did not have the opportunity to wash their hands properly. Food inspectors had discovered that a sink in the bakery was defective. For a long time, employees can only wash their hands in a sink.
Contact persons should now be vaccinated as a precaution.
In five of the infections, there is no reliable connection to the bakery. Therefore, further examinations of employees would be initiated in three other companies in the municipality of Dummerstorf. Drinking water samples are also being tested to rule out the unlikely possibility that those affected have become infected, the district said.
Washing your hands can protect against the transmission of hepatitis A.
As explained in the circle, the contact persons should now receive the so-called blocked vaccines. The vaccine is administered within the incubation period. This gives the immune system a chance to produce antibodies, which can prevent infection at best. The incubation period for hepatitis A is relatively long. After contact with an infected person, it usually takes 15 to 50 days before symptoms appear.
The hepatitis A virus is spread throughout the world, but infections are relatively rare in Germany. In 2018, 1,043 cases were reported, compared to 1,234 the previous year. When infected, the liver becomes inflamed. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food, water, and everyday objects, but also through personal contact. A district spokesperson emphasized that adherence to general hygiene rules could protect against the transmission of hepatitis A. It is particularly important to wash your hands, especially after using the toilet and before handling food.
