Hepatitis E outbreak at a nursing home for aged people in Hokkaido, Japan, between February and March 2016

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) often causes acute hepatitis, and 4 main genotypes have been isolated from humans [1]. In developing countries, two human-specific HEV genotypes (1 and 2) have been identified and are transmitted generally through contaminated water by the fecal-oral route. It has recently become apparent that autochthonous HEV is also widely distributed in industrialized countries. In these countries, HEV genotypes 3 and 4, which are classified as zoonotic agents, are transmitted to humans through the digestion of contaminated food, particularly undercooked or raw pork.

Source: Journal of Clinical Virology - January 21, 2018 Category: Virology Authors: Setsuko Ishida, Kaori Matsuura, Shima Yoshizumi, Masahiro Miyoshi, Takahisa Sugisawa, Mitsuhiro Tanida, Motohiko Okano Source Type: research