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Oyster-associated hepatitis. Failure of shellfish certification programs to prevent outbreaks.
JAMA
|September 18, 1975
Summary
Hepatitis A outbreaks linked to raw oysters highlight flaws in shellfish monitoring. Despite meeting standards, oysters from Louisiana bays contaminated by the Mississippi River caused illness, questioning system adequacy.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Foodborne Illness
Background:
- Hepatitis A outbreaks occurred in Houston and Georgia in 1973.
- Consumption of raw oysters was identified as the common source.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of hepatitis A outbreaks linked to raw oyster consumption.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of shellfish sanitation monitoring systems.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological investigation of outbreak cases.
- Analysis of oyster harvesting and water quality data.
Main Results:
- Oysters harvested from two Louisiana bays were implicated in both outbreaks.
- These bays had been contaminated by polluted Mississippi River water prior to harvest.
- At the time of harvest, the bays met national sanitation standards and were certified.
Conclusions:
- Current shellfish sanitation monitoring systems may be inadequate.
- Further evaluation of monitoring protocols is necessary to prevent future outbreaks.
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