FAST FACTS ABOUT HEP A
Symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, dark urine or jaundice. If persons, family or friends are experiencing any of these symptoms, they should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible.To reduce the spread of hepatitis A:› Get vaccinated as soon as possible› Do not share drug paraphernalia, cigarettes, food, drinks, eating utensils, towels or toothbrushes› And, wash your hands frequently:* Before, during, and after preparing food* After using the toilet* After changing diapers or cleaning up after a person who has used the toilet* After touching garbage* Before eating food* Before and after caring for someone who is sickSource: Alabama Department of Public Health
An outbreak of hepatitis A in five Northeast Alabama counties – now nearing three dozen cases in DeKalb and Jackson counties alone – has forced officials to craft a response plan and call for people to get vaccinated.
Sand Mountain in Jackson and DeKalb is a hotspot for the outbreak, officials said, and certain populations there and elsewhere are the target of vaccination and education efforts.
Alabama Department of Public Health records through April 10 show 26 cases reported in Jackson County and 19 reported in DeKalb County since Sept. 1, 2018. Non-outbreak counties include neighboring Marshall, Etowah and Cherokee each with one reported case during the period. Two more southerly counties – Jefferson and Montgomery – are on Alabama’s hepatitis A map, too, with one case each, records show.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by a virus that occurs only as a new infection and does not become chronic. Symptoms include nausea, fatigue, fever, stomach pains, diarrhea, jaundice, dark urine and light-colored feces. There is no cure, but symptoms can be treated, health officials.