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As of 6 August 2013, the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish public health institutes reported 106 cases associated with the hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection outbreak affecting their countries since 1 October 2012. Of these, 64 were confirmed and 42 were probable.
Denmark reported 68 cases (38 confirmed), Finland 14 (7 confirmed), Norway seven (six confirmed) and Sweden 17 (13 confirmed).
Epidemiological investigations suggested frozen strawberries imported from North Africa and distributed in the four Nordic countries as the most likely vehicle of infection. The distributor in Denmark, Norway and Sweden has voluntarily recalled the product from the market.
There has been a steep decrease in the number of cases reported in the last months. However, the vehicle of infection has long storage life and could be kept in household freezers for several months, it is possible that recent and new cases may be due to delayed and unaware consumption of the food item.
ECDC continues to monitor this event together with the affected countries. Three other food-borne HAV-related outbreaks are simultaneously under investigation in Italy and Ireland, among European travellers returning from Egypt and the USA. At present, there is no evidence of common links between these outbreaks.
(Via ECDC - accessed 09/08/13)
Advice for Travellers
As the implicated product has been withdrawn in the affected country, the risk to travellers is very low.
Vaccine recommendations have not been changed for these countries.
