A UK supermarket may have infected thousands of people with Hepatitis without realising (Picture: Getty)

A UK supermarket may have infected thousands of people with Hepatitis without realising, Public Health England has warned.

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The warning comes after scientists traced the shopping habits of 60 patients found to have the HEV G3-2 strain of Hepatitis E.

The virus is carried by pigs in Europe, mainly in Holland and Germany, which ultimately ends up being transmitted through sausages and pork products.

This can then cause liver cirrhosis and neurological damage.


Hepatitis E virus is carried by pigs in Europe, mainly in Holland and Germany, which ultimately ends up being transmitted through sausages and pork products. (HEV)

The Public Health England report said the infected people had all bought own-brand sausages or pre-packed sliced ham from the same chain, which is being referred to as ‘Supermarket X’.



Most were said to suffer a few symptoms though some people did develop serious illnesses, particularly those whose immune systems may have been suppressed from other treatments.

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As a result of these findings, blood donations are now being screened for the virus, as well as donated organs and tissues.

Researchers estimated that between 150,000 to 200,000 Brits a year are infected by the imported pork.

Two Public Health England studies from 2008 also found that Supermarket X’s pork products was a key source of the virus.

The research started in 2014 and was completed last year but was only recently published due to the ‘sensitivity’ of the findings.

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