[Outbreak of hepatitis B at a butcher's shop]

Within one year four butchers fell ill with acute hepatitis B in a butcher's shop with ten employees. A symptom-free hepatitis B virus carrier was detected among the non-diseased employees. Lack of IgM-anti-HBc antibodies showed that the carrier state had probably existed for more than one year. The time course of infections and the kind of cooperation made it very likely that the carrier had infected his symptomatic mates. The outbreak shows that hepatitis B can be an occupational disease also in non-medical occupations. Should hepatitis B occur in a workman exposed to trauma frequently due to his occupation, serological investigation of the workmates is required in order to identify potential sources of infection and to enable future protective measures.