How To Stop Hepatitis A Outbreak In Santa Cruz County: Health Officials

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA – An increase in Hepatitis A cases in Santa Cruz County has prompted health officials to give community members more direction to stop the spread of the disease, the officials said Friday.

Usually, county health officials will see one to two cases of Hepatitis A each year, but health officials have identified more than 60 cases since March.

Some of those cases were outside of vulnerable populations. No one has died.

County health officials are suggesting people get vaccinated.

The officials are also asking business owners to clean and disinfect bathrooms with chlorine bleach and clean hard surfaces, including food preparation areas, properly.

They're also asking business owners to assure employees clean hands properly and clean with and dispose of latex gloves properly.

Most cases of Hepatitis A have occurred in individuals with limited access to sanitary facilities.

Hepatitis A causes an inflammation of the liver and is usually transmitted through the fecal to oral route, according to county health officials.

That can occur through person-to-person contact, touching contaminated surfaces and consuming contaminated food or water.

Symptoms of the disease include jaundice, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and light-colored stools. Usually symptoms appear over a number of days and go away in less
than two months. But people can be ill for up to six months.

In some cases Hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death.

People with questions about the disease should get in touch with their primary care doctor.

Vaccines are free from a primary care doctor for people with insurance or through a safety-net clinic, health officials said.

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