Recovery of hepatitis A virus from a water supply responsible for a common source outbreak of hepatitis A

An outbreak of hepatitis A occurred in a north Georgia trailer park served by a private well. Of 18 residents who were serosusceptible to hepatitis A virus (HAV), 16 (89%) developed hepatitis A. Well water samples were collected 3 months after illness onset in the index case and 28 days after illness onset in the last trailer park resident. Hepatitis A virus antigen (HAVAg) was detected in the samples by enzyme immunoassay from three of the five cell lines following two 30-day passages and from a fourth cell line following a third passage of 21 days.