VA Hepatitis A Outbreak: 86 Hospitalized, Cases Expand

VIRGINIA — Health officials are reminding Virginia residents of how to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A as an outbreak expands in the state. As of Aug. 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 134 cases of Hepatitis A in the Commonwealth in the past year, and of those 84 patients have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported in the state.

The Virginia Department of Health, by contrast, reports that 140 cases of the infectious disease have been confirmed between Jan. 1 and Aug. 22, with 86 hospitalizations. The most cases, 25, have been noted in the Mount Rogers health district, with 19 in the Cumberland Plateau and 15 in the Peninsula district.

The CDC says the outbreak has hit 29 states.

The virus is typically transmitted from person-to-person when it is ingested from objects, food or drinks contaminated by a stool from an infected person, according to health officials. This can happen when infected people do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom and then touch food or items that are shared with others. Someone preparing food can be a source of outbreaks, as well as cooked foods that are not heated to temperatures capable of killing the virus during preparation (185 degrees F for one minute) and foods that are contaminated after cooking, the CDC says.

Hepatitis A can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill.

Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms including fever, fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea and jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection, according to the CDC.
Other signs and symptoms of hepatitis A virus include vomiting, dark urine, diarrhea, clay-colored bowel movements and joint pain.

Hepatitis infections can be prevented by vaccination, the VDH said. Practicing good hand hygiene, including handwashing after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and when preparing or eating food, also aids in preventing the spread of the disease.

Health experts recommends these people be vaccinated against hepatitis A:

• Men who have sex with men
• Illicit drug users (injection or non-injection
• Household members and close personal contacts of persons with hepatitis A infection
• Persons experiencing homelessness
• Travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common
• People with chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C

Hepatitis A vaccine is available at many doctor's offices and pharmacies, and it is also available at local health departments across the state. Click here to find the closest health department.

For more information about hepatitis A, visit the Virginia Department of Public Health or the Centers for Disease Control.