The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health
is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV), mirroring similar
outbreaks in other states. Most of the cases have been reported in Morehouse
Parish.
Dr. Frank Welch, immunization director for the Department of
Health, said the Office of Public Health has received one-time funding to
purchase hepatitis A vaccine. The Office is working with partner organizations
to provide the vaccine to people experiencing homelessness or drug use, two of
the most at-risk groups for hepatitis A.
With the uptick in hepatitis A cases, it’s important to keep
the public informed about the illness.
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a serious inflammation of the liver, which
processes nutrients, filters the blood and fights infections. When left
untreated, hepatitis A can lead to liver failure and occasionally death. The
highly contagious infection ranges from a mild illness of a few weeks to a
severe illness of several months or more.
How is it spread?
Hepatitis A is spread most commonly through contact with
objects, food or drinks contaminated with feces or stool from an infected
person. Transmission is possible by not washing hands after using the bathroom
or changing diapers, having sex with infected partners, eating or drinking
foods contaminated by hepatitis A, illegal drug use and close contact with
someone infected with hepatitis A.
What are the
symptoms?
Not all people with hepatitis A display symptoms, which can
develop two to six weeks after infection and include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Grey-colored stools
- Joint pain
- Jaundice
Adults are more likely to display symptoms than children.
Symptoms generally last less than two months, though some people may be ill for
as long as six months.
How is it diagnosed
and treated?
Diagnosis is determined by taking a blood sample. Treatment
usually includes rest, adequate nutrition, fluids and medical monitoring.
Depending upon severity, some people will need hospitalization. It may take
several months for a person to feel better.
Can hepatitis A be
prevented?
Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after
using the bathroom or changing diapers is one of the easiest ways to prevent
the transmission of hepatitis A.
However, the best prevention is vaccination. It’s
recommended for all children, as well as for people with certain risk factors
and medical conditions. People who are traveling to international countries
with high incidences of HAV also are recommended to receive the vaccine.
Safe and effective, the hepatitis A vaccine consists of
either two or three shots given one and six months apart. Contact your primary
care provider or parish health unit. To find a parish health unit in your area,
click here.
Who should get the hepatitis
A vaccine?
- All children at 1 year of age
- Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common
- Family and caregivers of adoptees from countries where hepatitis A is common
- Men who have sex with other men
- Users of illegal drugs
- People with chronic or long-term liver disease, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C
- People with clotting-factor disorders
- People who have experienced homelessness or in transient living during the past year
- People recently in jail or prison
Who should not get
the HAV vaccine?
- Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of hepatitis A vaccine or an allergic reaction to any of the components found in the vaccine
- Anyone who is moderately or severely ill
Where can I learn
more?
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