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A warning from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, after an increase in the number of cases of hepatitis A in our state.
In recent years, 40 to 60 cases have been reported each year in our state.
This year, we have already seen 81 cases in Pennsylvania.
Health professionals do not know exactly why, but they want the public to know.
Hepatitis A is a virus that attacks the liver and has various degrees of severity depending on the age of the person.
It is spread by ingestion of feces from an infected person and can be caught on door handles, switches, or on food.
In fact, Dr. John Goldman, a physician specializing in infectious diseases at UPMC Pinnacle, says the food could be at the root of this increase.
"I guess it's because we have a lot of big companies producing food, so if a contamination is detected early in the food chain, it can affect a lot of people," Dr. Goldman said.
According to Dr. Goldman, this is a virus that does not have to be deadly.
He says the best way to prevent it is to get vaccinated and wash your hands often.
Several other states are also experiencing epidemics, particularly in Ohio and West Virginia.
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