Press Release courtesy of the Southwest Georgia Public Health District
Albany, GA – Hepatitis A – a highly contagious liver infection – is on the rise in Georgia, prompting Public Health officials to recommend residents to learn about the disease and to get vaccinated against it.
“The state has seen an increase in hepatitis A, which can lead to a severe illness lasting several months, or which may have no symptoms at all,” said Southwest Health District Epidemiologist Jacqueline Jenkins. In rare cases, it can cause liver failure and death.
“We want residents to be aware that the infection is circulating in Georgia so they can know what to do to prevent it,” she said. Hepatitis A is vaccine-preventable.
Although the infection is surging in parts of the state, Jenkins emphasized that cases of Hepatitis A are not increasing in
“We had no confirmed cases here last year and so far this year to date we have none,” she said. “We’d like to keep it that way.”
Vaccine is available at county health departments and is affordable, safe and effective, said Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Charles Ruis. “The health departments accept most insurance,” he said. “Low-pay and no-pay options are also available for qualified applicants.”
The vaccine is usually administered in a series of two doses, which should confer immunity, Ruis said.
It can be given to pregnant women and to people with compromised immune systems, such as persons on dialysis or persons with AIDS, according to the National Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC also noted that administering an extra dose of hepatitis A vaccine isn’t harmful if a person’s vaccine history isn’t known. Further, the vaccine may be administered concurrently with other vaccines, the CDC stated.
Once a person has had hepatitis A, he or she is protected against getting it again, Ruis said.
Some groups are at risk for the disease, and Ruis urged them to get vaccinated against it.
Those at risk for Hepatitis A include:
* Substance abusers (both injection and non-injection)
* Children age 1 or older
* Men who have sex with men
* Homelessness
* Close contacts and household members of people who have Hepatitis A
* People with chronic liver disease (including hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C)
* People traveling to places where hepatitis A is common
Symptoms of hepatitis A may include:
* Vomiting
* Nausea
* Fever
* Abdominal pain
* Loss of appetite
* Headache
* Diarrhea
The infection is typically transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or by consuming contaminated food or water.
For more information about Hepatitis A, go online to: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/.
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