Defining risk hepatitis A virus in Philippine shellfish (oyster and mussels)

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) endemicity in the Philippines ranges from moderate to high.
Despite this, health risks related to local seafood consumption are associated with red tide or
mass fish kill. However, government agencies should consider the safety of local shellfish and
culture sites to HAV. This article examines the current trends relevant to the presence of HAV
along the local shellfish supply chain – including production levels, microbial concentration,
consumer behavior, and food safety regulations. Despite the susceptibility of local shellfish to
HAV, the study identified crucial data gaps: [1] reliance on bacterial indicators, [2] absence of
monitoring records for HAV concentration in local shellfish products and culturing sites, and
[3] limited studies regarding the effect of local cooking practices on HAV inactivation. The
synthesis of this analysis will guide the national food safety risk managers in addressing the
identified data gaps to facilitate a full-blown food risk analysis of HAV in Philippine shellfish.