Outbreak of Hepatitis A reported in 4 Washington counties

Outbreak of Hepatitis A reported in 4 Washington counties
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For those who do not know, Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus and can provoke severe illness. It can be transmitted by eating contaminated food, drinking infested water or even direct contact with someone carrying the disease. Hepatitis A is no joke as it can cause death. It’s imperative that people know how to avoid contracting it and how to properly fight the disease.

Bad news

The Washington State Department of Health stated Tuesday that an outbreak of hepatitis A was discovered in some counties of the Washington state.

The aforementioned outbreak includes 13 confirmed cases in homeless people or drug users.

Two cases were reported in King County, nine cases in Spokane, one in Snohomish County and a single case in Pend Oreille County.

It seems that those who are living in the streets or using drugs are at greater risk of getting hepatitis A and it’s even worse if they do not have access to proper sanitation.

Symptoms

After contracting hepatitis A, symptoms might not appear for a few weeks, but can result in a severe illness that can last for months, which can even provoke liver failure, and ultimately, death.

Prevention

It’s no surprise that the most efficient way of preventing hepatitis A is vaccination, which is recommended for everybody older than one year.

“The department is working closely with local health officials on prevention and response efforts, including public education, vaccinations, partnerships with health care and service providers and interventions for sanitation” – quote from the Health Department.


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I am a pop culture and social media expert. Aside from writing about the latest news health, I also enjoy pop culture and Yoga. I have BA in American Cultural Studies and currently enrolled in a Mass-Media MA program. I like to spend my spring breaks volunteering overseas.

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