Hepatitis A possible when stopping Kwik in Jordan in Waldenburg

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – Northeastern Arkansas continues to have an epidemic of hepatitis A (hepatitis A).

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) warns of possible exposure to hepatitis A after the revelation of the virus by an employee of the Jordanian Kwik Stop in Waldenburg.

Anyone who has eaten or drunk at the Kwik Stop of Jordan, at 7974 Hwy 49, in Waldenburg, Arkansas, from March 14 to 29, 2019, should be vaccinated immediately if they have never been vaccinated against them. hepatitis A or he's not sure of his status.

There is no specific treatment once a person has contracted hepatitis A.

The disease can be prevented even after exposure by getting the vaccine or the drug called immunoglobulin, which contains anti-hepatitis A antibodies. These act better to prevent the disease if they are administered in both weeks after exposure to the virus. Hepatitis A Vaccination can still prevent the virus after exposure.

ADH will hold vaccination clinics on Monday, April 8th. Vaccines will be available from 7:30 am to 5 pm in Poinsett County Health Units in Harrisburg, Marked Tree and Trumann, and in the former Josie's Steak House at 7974 Hwy 49 in Waldenburg from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm

The vaccine will be provided to the public at no cost. People must bring their insurance card and driver's license if they have one.

Those who can not get to the clinics listed above because they are in another county may be able to visit a local health unit in their county. Those who visit local health units in other counties should phone to make sure the vaccine is available.

The list of local health units is available at https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/health-units.

Anyone with symptoms should seek care immediately. Typical symptoms of hepatitis A are fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, joint pain or jaundice (yellowing skin or eyes). Its severity can range from a mild illness of a few weeks to a serious illness of several months.

The risk of contracting hepatitis A in a catering establishment is low. Restaurants must follow ADH protocols for handwashing and glove use, and employees should not return to work until they are sicker. Hepatitis A spreads in this outbreak primarily through close contacts in the community, not through restaurant meals.

Since February 2018, 317 cases of hepatitis A have been reported as part of an epidemic in northeastern Arkansas, including three deaths.

Greene and Craighead counties recorded the highest number of cases, although cases occurred in Arkansas, Clay, Cleburne, Crittenden, Cross, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Logan, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Randolph, Sharp and White Counties.

High priority groups for obtaining hepatitis A vaccine include:
• Anyone who has had close contact with a person with hepatitis A
• food workers
• People who use drugs, whether injected or not
• People who are homeless, transient or unstable
• Recently incarcerated

The vaccine against hepatitis A is safe and effective. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease resulting from an infection with the hepatitis A virus, which is a different virus than viruses that cause hepatitis B or hepatitis C. It usually spreads when a person ingests small amounts of feces through contact with objects. food or beverages contaminated with faeces (stool) from an infected person.

A person can transmit the virus to other people up to two weeks before and one week after the onset of symptoms. In case of infection, most people develop symptoms three to four weeks after exposure. However, the virus can cause illness between two and seven weeks after exposure. Many people, especially children, may have no symptoms. Almost all people who get hepatitis A recover fully and do not have persistent liver damage, although they may feel sick for months.

Older people usually have more serious symptoms. Among the other risk factors for more serious symptoms of hepatitis A, there are other infections or chronic diseases such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, HIV / AIDS or diabetes.

Up to one in three adults is usually hospitalized. Deaths due to hepatitis A are rare, but are more likely in patients with other liver diseases (such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C).

For more information on hepatitis A and up-to-date information on the Arkansas outbreak, visit www.healthy.arkansas.gov.