Oakland County health officials urge people who have recently attended the Michigan Renaissance Festival to be vaccinated against hepatitis A because a person who visited the fair on Sept. 1 was tested positive for the disease.

According to the Oakland County Health Division, anyone who was at the fair on September 1st or September 2nd should be vaccinated by Saturday, if not already vaccinated.

The health division will organize vaccination clinics from 8:30 to 19:00. Friday and 10 am to 2 pm Saturday at the North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac.

Vaccination can prevent the disease if it is administered within 14 days of potential exposure, said Leigh-Anne Stafford, Health Officer in the Health Division. Officials said that they first learned of the festival participants' illness on Thursday night.

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus. Symptoms usually occur between two weeks and 50 days after exposure and can last from several weeks to several months. The disease can be fatal.

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People who may be exposed but can not be vaccinated until Saturday should monitor symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dark urine, clay stools, fever, chills, and yellow skin and eyes (jaundice).

Hepatitis A cases have been raging in southeastern Michigan since August 2016. Public health officials have said it was the only way to prevent the spread of the disease. one of the largest epidemics in the United States, a vaccine that was widely introduced 20 years ago.

At the state level, there were 886 cases, with 713 hospitalizations and 28 deaths.

The virus is excreted in faeces and is most commonly spread between people who have dirty hands contaminated with faeces.

Stafford said with vaccination, good hygiene practices and good surface sanitation can prevent the spread of hepatitis A.

The annual Holly Michigan Renaissance Festival regularly attracts more than 250,000 visitors, according to the festival's website.

For more information on hepatitis A, visit oakgov.com/health. Nurse on Call is available from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday at 800-848-5533 or at [email protected].

Archives: The emaciated camel arouses indignation at the Renaissance Fest

Contact editor Ann Zaniewski at 313-222-6594 ​​or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @AnnZaniewski

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