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JONESBORO, Arkansas (KTHV) – An epidemic of hepatitis A (hepatitis A) continues in northeastern Arkansas.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can be prevented by vaccination. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is announcing a possible exposure to hepatitis A after a Murdock Catfish employee, located on Red Wolf Boulevard in Jonesboro, tested positive to the virus.
Anyone who has eaten at this restaurant from Thursday, September 27 to Friday, October 5 should be vaccinated immediately if they have never been vaccinated against hepatitis A or if they are unsure of their vaccination status.
There is no specific treatment once hepatitis A is reached. Even after exposure, it is possible to prevent the disease by receiving the vaccine or the medicine called immunoglobulin. This medicine contains anti-hepatitis A antibodies and works best if it is administered within two weeks of exposure to the virus.
"This restaurant has been working proactively with the DHA by requiring the vaccination of all its employees and ensuring them full compliance prior to this potential exposure," said Dr. Dirk Haselow, state epidemiologist. "DHA is not aware of any recurring risk in this restaurant yet."
The vaccine will be available at the Craighead County Local Health Unit located on E. Washington Street in Jonesboro from 8 am to 6 pm Thursday, October 11, and at the Earl Bell Community Center located at S. Church St., Jonesboro, from 8 am to 6 pm Friday, October 12th.
The vaccine will be provided to the public without charge. People must bring their insurance card and driver's license if they have one.
Anyone with symptoms should seek immediate care. 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 restaurant is low. Restaurants must follow ADH protocols for hand washing and the use of gloves, and employees should not return to work until they are no longer sick. Hepatitis A spreads in this outbreak primarily through close contacts in the community, not through restaurant meals.
Since February, 158 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in an outbreak in northeastern Arkansas, including one death. Greene County has the highest number of cases, although it has occurred in Clay, Craighead, Independence, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Arkansas and Randolph Counties. .
The DHA continues to encourage all residents of Greene County aged 19 to 60 years to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and to wash their hands thoroughly and often. ADH urges all food users to be vaccinated against hepatitis A in Greene, Clay and Craighead Counties to protect themselves from the spread of the virus.
High priority groups for obtaining hepatitis A vaccine include:
- Anyone who has had close contact with someone who has hepatitis A
- Food workers
- People who use drugs, whether they are injected or not
- People experiencing homelessness, transient or unstable housing
- Recently imprisoned
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 drink contaminated by the stool of 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 contract Hepatitis A recover fully and do not suffer from any lasting liver injury, although they may feel sick for months.
Older people usually have more serious symptoms. Other risk factors for more serious symptoms of hepatitis A include other infections or chronic diseases such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, HIV / AIDS. 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, please visit www.healthy.arkansas.gov.
RELATED LINES |
Hepatitis A epidemic in northeastern Arkansas is exceptionally severe
Possible exposure to hepatitis A at the Pizza Inn in Jonesboro, warns the Department of Health
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