Hepatitis A on the rise in Campania: raw seafood under accusation for 133 cases and over 50 hospitalizations

Cases of hepatitis A are on the rise in Campania. Currently, the Region has reported 133 cases, with around fifty hospitalized at the Cotugno Hospital in Naples since mid-February and 14 today: among them, a 46-year-old transferred to Cardarelli in critical condition.

Several patients are on stretchers in the emergency room.

According to the management of the Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli, however, "there is no emergency. The situation in the emergency room remains overall stable. Throughout the day, about 14 new cases have been recorded. Of these, in the afternoon, about 9 patients are expected to be admitted, which will ease the emergency area. Additionally, two further cases are in the process of being transferred from the Cto facility, currently awaiting admission. The flow of new admissions remains moderate, with no evidence of critical issues in clinical and organizational management."

Seafood and raw fish are under scrutiny.

The number of cases recorded in this recent period, according to the Region, represents "an increase that requires maximum attention regarding food safety, epidemiological surveillance, and information to citizens."

Hence the decision to strengthen controls on the shellfish supply chain and simultaneously enhance prevention activities.

Vaccination, personal hygiene, and hygiene of domestic environments are some of the fundamental recommendations in addition to cooking seafood, which should never be consumed raw.

Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection caused by the Hav virus.

It is transmitted via oro-fecal route, meaning through ingestion of contaminated water or food or through close contact with an infected person.

Transmission can also occur before symptoms appear, as the virus is present in feces 7-10 days before clinical onset; the incubation period typically ranges from 15 to 50 days.

The most common symptoms are fever, malaise, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice; in children, the infection can also occur without obvious symptoms.

In food transmission, an important role can therefore be played by some foods consumed raw or not sufficiently cooked, particularly bivalve mollusks, but also contaminated water, fruit, vegetables, and berries.

Vaccination, it is noted, remains the most effective prevention measure. It is particularly important for contacts of hepatitis A cases and for people at higher risk.

It is essential that those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case immediately consult their doctor or the prevention services of the local health authority.

One should consult a doctor as well, in the presence of symptoms such as persistent nausea, severe fatigue, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, or yellowing of the skin and eyes.

In most cases, recovery is complete, but the course can be more challenging in older adults and in people with pre-existing liver conditions.