Sun-dried tomatoes investigated as possible source of hepatitis A outbreak - The Guardian

Health officials are investigating whether there is a link between recent outbreaks of hepatitis A and eating sun-dried tomatoes.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said two confirmed cases of the infection had been found to have an identical strain to three cases reported in England and confirmed at HPA Colindale in 2010.

Both people had recently eaten sun-dried tomatoes.

The three UK cases in 2010 had the same strain associated with a cluster of cases of hepatitis A in the Netherlands at that time, which were also linked to the foodstuff.

The HPA said one of the three cases identified in 2010 had travelled to the Netherlands and consumed sun-dried tomatoes there.

A joint statement from the HPA and Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: "Sun-dried tomatoes are being investigated as one possible source of the hepatitis A cases reported last year.

"However, no food source has been conclusively identified so far and no other relevant cases have been reported in the UK since November 2011.

"The investigation by FSA and HPA is ongoing."

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus, which leads to inflammation of the organ.

Some people with hepatitis A do not have any symptoms while others suffer flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, nausea, fever, abdominal pains or jaundice.

It is predominantly spread through traces of faecal matter containing the virus which contaminate hands, objects, water or food and are then taken in through the mouth. Many people recover within a couple of months without treatment but it can lead to death if the infection overwhelms the body, particularly among elderly people.

It is most common in countries where sanitation is poor, with vaccination against it recommended for those travelling to such areas.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are an estimated 1.5m new cases of illness due to hepatitis A each year worldwide.