On Barbara Kornfeld
In recent weeks one of the most covered media topics is the phenomenon of Hepatitis A in Campania: not exactly an epidemic, although the number of hospitalization cases recorded in Neapolitan hospitals represents well over double compared to the figure of previous years.
In data 21 March 2026, at 16:17 the Campania Region, through the Sinfonia Platform, that is, the health portal dedicated to citizens has published a series of information on the matter:
“The Campania Region, through the DG Health – Collective Prevention Sector, Public and Veterinary Health – has progressively strengthened all the main public health levers necessary to contain the current increase in hepatitis A cases: epidemiological surveillance, timely management of cases and contacts, official controls on the food supply chain, molecular insights e, lastly, strengthening the active and free offer of anti-HAV vaccination for the most at risk or fragile people. Regional action is based on converging technical evidence: epidemiological and laboratory investigations, sampling of bivalve molluscs, environmental monitoring and in-depth analyzes conducted with the support of the technical-scientific network.
At this stage, the Region has also arranged for the strengthening and expansion of the free anti-hepatitis A vaccination offer, for those most at risk: health and social care personnel, operators in the food supply chain, fragile patients and pediatric population in relation to epidemiological and exposure risk. Furthermore, the free vaccination offer to people who have been in contact with infected subjects remains guaranteed. This extension is free, guaranteed with regional funds, allows healthcare companies to quickly activate and strengthen the offer throughout the regional territory.
The Region will continue to constantly monitor the epidemiological trend and the effectiveness of the measures adopted, maintaining a high level of attention along the entire supply chain and in the contexts at greatest risk, with the aim of protecting the population and ensuring a uniform response, rigorous and timely throughout the Campania region."
Dr. echoed. Matteo Bassetti, well-known infectious disease specialist, reassuring that with the cooking of shellfish at 60° - purchased from selected retailers, the risk is eliminated; then he added that it is preferable for immunosuppressed people to get vaccinated.
The Campania Region, with his statement of 23 March also offered numerous preventive health and hygiene indications:
“Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection caused by the HAV virus. It is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, that is, through ingestion of contaminated water or food or through close contact with an infected person. Infection can occur even before symptoms appear, because the virus is already present in the feces 7-10 days before clinical onset; the incubation period typically varies from 15 a 50 days. The most frequent symptoms are fever, malaise, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice; in children the infection can also occur without obvious symptoms.
In food transmission, an important role can be played by some foods consumed raw or insufficiently cooked, in particular bivalve molluscs, but also contaminated water, fruit, vegetables and berries. Bivalve molluscs, like mussels, clams and oysters, can accumulate viral particles during the filtration of contaminated water; for this reason, consumption raw or undercooked represents a risk that should be avoided.
The consumption of raw or recently cooked shellfish should be avoided. For mussels, clams and other bivalve molluscs, the opening of the valves alone should not be considered a sufficient guarantee of safety: cooking must continue until the product is evenly cooked. In other words, “freshly opened” shellfish should not be consumed, lukewarm or only partially cooked. It is also essential to purchase only from authorized retailers, checking labelling, origin and correct conservation methods, and absolutely avoid products of dubious origin or sold outside official channels.
For berries, a distinction must be made between fresh and frozen: fresh ones must be washed carefully under running drinking water immediately before consumption, frozen or deep-frozen ones, Instead, they must be consumed only after cooking (the recommendation reported by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità is to bring them to the boil at 100° C for at least 2 minutes. They must therefore not be used raw to garnish desserts, yogurt, semifreddos or fruit salads).
Practical rules to follow every day:
- wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before cooking, before eating, after using the bathroom, after changing diapers and after caring for a sick person;
- separate raw and cooked foods, using different utensils and cutting boards or washing them carefully between one use and another;
- clean and sanitize worktops, knives, sinks and surfaces after handling raw foods;
- wash fruit and vegetables to be consumed raw well under running water; drink only safe water and do not use water of uncontrolled origin for drinking, wash food or make ice;
- do not prepare food for other people if you have symptoms compatible with hepatitis or gastrointestinal disorders, until medical evaluation;
- contact your doctor if you experience symptoms such as persistent nausea, severe tiredness, abdominal pain, urine scure, pale stools or yellowing of the skin and eyes.
In most cases recovery is complete, but the course may be more challenging in older adults and people with pre-existing liver disease. Correct information, early diagnosis, accurate hygiene and prudent eating habits are the most effective tools to contain the spread of the infection.”
Unfortunately, this was not enough to trigger a mass psychosis, to cause sales of the entire fish sector to collapse and trigger recriminations from the frustrated on the web: those who - hidden behind a keyboard - claim the alleged previous millionaire earnings of the fishmongers.
All this despite frequent checks by the NAS Carabinieri.
