Surviving a Hepatitis A Outbreak: Don't Lose the Lessons Learned

Abstract

Abstract This resource is a comprehensive review of the largest hepatitis A outbreak in US history. It provides a complete review of the response, investigation, and aftermath. The resource shows the steps that were used to trace the source of the infection back to its origin. It can be taught as a didactic instruction or can be used as a case study. This resource is significant in that it provides a comprehensive view of the outbreak and response. It includes many of the standard epidemiologic/scientific factors but also many facets not usually discussed, such as agency administration and the communications to the political leadership, community, and general public. One unique aspect of this study is that it incorporates data obtained using principles of oral history, including five in-depth interviews, in the study of the outbreak.

Keywords

• Disease Outbreaks
• Hepatitis A
• Foodborne Diseases