Hepatitis in Scots oyster and mussels
Researchers warn of health risk
SHELLFISH infected with hepatitis has been found in Scots supermarkets.
Experts from Glasgow Caledonian University tested 310 samples and there were traces of the virus in eight blue mussels and one oyster – around three per cent of those checked.
It is the first time the hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been found in commercially sold shellfish harvested from Scottish waters and researchers are warning of potential health dangers.
Professor Linda Scobie, who led the study, said: “We don’t know at what point in the food processing chain this contamination occurred.
“There are significant gaps in our knowledge with HEV in the UK.
“We don’t know how much virus is required to cause infection, unlike the norovirus where you only need a few particles to cause acute illness.
“What we do know is more people are being diagnosed and if they have particular medical conditions, then they are at risk of becoming very ill.”
The shellfish tested were from four supermarkets in the Glasgow area and a fishmonger on the east coast.
HEV is generally a mild disease but can develop into flu-like symptoms, jaundice, fever and vomiting.
In rare cases, transmission to patients via blood transfusion or transplant can pose “serious risks”.
Academics are calling for further UK studies into foodborne HEV transmission.
Figures show the number of diagnosed cases of the virus in Scotland rose from 13 in 2011 to 206 in 2016.
Cases have been previously linked to contaminated food, such as pork and soft fruit, in Europe.