There is a hepatitis A outbreak in Pennsylvania.
State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine made that announcement on Monday, declaring there are 171 cases being reported in 36 counties.
Allegheny and Philadelphia counties have been hit the hardest, with anywhere between 31 and 50 cases. Between one and 10 cases have been reported in Butler County.
“The counties hit hardest by this outbreak are Philadelphia and Allegheny, but we have seen an increase of cases throughout much of the state,” Dr. Levine said. “We are taking this action now to be proactive in our response to treating Pennsylvanians suffering from this illnesses and prevent it from spreading. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination.”
Hepatitis A is a liver infection, caused by a virus. It spreads from person-to-person after someone puts something in their mouth that has been contaminated with the fecal matter of a person infected with the virus.
People at risk for contracting the virus are:
- A person that has encountered a person with hepatitis A
- People who use intravenous drugs
- Homeless
- Men that have sex with other men
Symptoms are mild and can last several weeks. More severe infections could last several months and many people infected do not experience any symptoms.
However, symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and jaundice.
Dr. Levine said the neighboring states of Ohio and West Virginia have seen more than 2,000 cases since January 2018. By declaring an outbreak, Pennsylvania is eligible for federal funds
to purchase additional vaccine if it is needed.
“It’s hard to know for sure why we are experiencing an outbreak of hepatitis A,” Dr. Levine said. “We do know that the commonwealth has seen an increase of diseases like hepatitis C and HIV
because of the opioid epidemic.”
If you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis A, contact your physician for further testing.
While there is no treatment, your doctor can monitor and treat your symptoms. If you are uninsured or underinsured, contact 1-877-PA-HEALTH to find a state health center nearest you
where you can be tested and monitored.
The post Pa. Dept. Of Health Declares Hepatitis A Outbreak appeared first on ButlerRadio.com – Butler, PA.
