Italian Authorities Impose Shellfish Ban Amid Hepatitis A Outbreak
Authorities in Italy have enacted an immediate ban on shellfish sales in Naples and the surrounding Campania region following a significant Hepatitis A outbreak. The Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro website has issued a warning to travellers, confirming 65 confirmed cases in the region as of March 19, with local reports indicating the total has reached approximately 180 cases since the beginning of the year.
Hospitalisations and Emergency Measures
Dr Raffaele Di Sarno, head of the infectious disease emergency room at Cotugno Hospital, revealed that 51 patients are currently hospitalised with nine more in emergency care. The affected individuals, predominantly aged between 30 and 40, have presented with what doctors describe as "uncomplicated hepatitis" that is not currently causing major concern. Many patients reported consuming raw mussels prior to falling ill.
In response, Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi signed an ordinance prohibiting the consumption of raw shellfish in all public establishments, including restaurants and businesses producing food for immediate consumption. Similar bans have been implemented by the mayors of Benevento and Forio on the island of Ischia.
Investigation and Regional Impact
The NAS Carabinieri, under Commander Alessandro Cisternino, have launched extensive inspections across Naples province targeting eateries, fishmongers, and markets. Their objective is to identify whether untraceable seafood and vegetables are being sold illegally. Collected samples will undergo analysis by the Portici Zooprophylactic Institute to determine contamination sources.
Regional newspaper Il Mattino reported the outbreak has been most intense in the provinces of Naples and Caserta, though cases have appeared sporadically across all local health authorities in Campania. While Hepatitis A cases have been rising nationally since 2023, previous clusters were concentrated in Central-Northern Italian regions and linked to different transmission routes including raw fish consumption, berries, travel, and sexual contact between men.
Expert Analysis and Public Health Response
Professor Maria Triassi, a university professor of Hygiene, suggested the outbreak likely originated from "a batch of mussels in the Naples area." She noted that while past generations in Naples developed immunity through childhood exposure to endemic viruses, many current residents lack protective antibodies, making vaccination essential.
The regional response involves coordinated efforts between the Prevention Departments of local health authorities, the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy (which conducts source inspections on shellfish production), and the technical-scientific network of the General Directorate for Health Protection.
Symptoms and Prevention Advice
Hospital admissions have documented primary symptoms including fever, jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue. According to Travel Health Pro, symptoms are often mild or absent in young children but become increasingly severe with age. Recovery can take weeks to months, though infection confers lifelong immunity.
Cristina Mussini, national president of the Italian Society of Infectious Diseases, warned that changes in mental status and possible bleeding require immediate emergency room attention. Health authorities recommend thorough washing of fruits and vegetables and advise residents to avoid raw shellfish consumption.
For travellers, prevention focuses on maintaining good personal hygiene and following food and water safety guidelines, as contaminated consumption remains the most common infection route.
