Norway reports outbreak of hepatitis A among gay men

The Norwegian Department of Infectious Diseases has reported an outbreak of sexually transmitted hepatitis A among gay men in the country. One hundred fifty cases have been reported in the country from January 1 through October 18, up from 52 cases during the same period in 2003. About 46% of the cases were determined to be due to sexual transmission between gay men; 51 of the 69 cases among gay men were reported in Oslo. Health officials began offering free hepatitis A vaccinations to gay men in Oslo and Bergen this summer, which some officials say has helped slow the STD's spread. There also has been a public health campaign in gay venues in Oslo about the STD. Similar outbreaks of hepatitis A have been reported in Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom this year. U.K. health officials also have reported outbreaks of the STDs shigellosis and lymphogranuloma venereum--a rare form of chlamydia--among gay men this year.