A probe has been launched after a hepatitis outbreak that hospitalised 58 people. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that two clusters of the virus were detected with a total of 95 people left ill from the outbreak.
Investigators learned of reports of 54 cases since 2024 and are now looking to uncover the origins of the outbreak. Interviews with patients suggest the outbreak comes from a food item bought from an unnamed supermarket. The report said: “A particular food item purchased from a particular supermarket has emerged as a possible vehicle of transmission due to its frequent reported consumption.” The product was not named despite officials having concerns it is a “possible vehicle of transmission”.
The first cluster saw some 19 people hospitalised with the infection. Most people who were in the first cluster were found to be aged between 50 and 69.
Another 39 people needed hospital care after they caught the virus as part of the second cluster. Cases involved in the first cluster were identified between January 2021 and March 2025.
The second wave of infections started in January 2023 with cases still being reported in March this year. No deaths have been linked to the report as of yet. Public Health Scotland is taking the lead in the investigation alongside officials with the UKHSA.
Hepatitis A is a liver infection which spreads in the poo of an infected person, according to the NHS. Most people who are infected with it tend to get better within a few months.
Hepatitis A is uncommon in the UK but is more prevalent in other parts of the world. The infection is typically seen in regions of Africa, Asia, the Middle East as well as South America.
You can get hepatitis A in the following ways:
- drinking unclean water
- eating food that’s been washed or grown in unclean water
- eating food that’s been handled by an infected person
- close physical contact with an infected person, including having sex and sharing needles to take drugs
The illness causes weakness and fatigue as well as a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever jaundice and abdominal pain. Should it be left untreated, it could lead to liver failure and, in some circumstances, can prove to be fatal.
Thankfully, hepatitis A typical clears up on its own within three to six months. A doctor might offer medicines to help with symptoms, such as painkillers or medicines to stop you feeling sick or itchy.