Scientists seek link between sundried tomatoes and hepatitis A outbreaks

HEALTH officials are trying to establish whether there is a link between recent outbreaks of hepatitis A and sundried tomatoes.

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

Both victims had recently consumed sundried 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.

A joint statement from the HPA and Food Standards Agency said: “Sundried 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 but it can lead to death if the infection overwhelms the body, particularly among the elderly.