On October 31, the outbreak of hepatitis A in Vinnytsia region was declared a regional emergency. They are stepping up anti-epidemic measures and vaccinating contact persons.
Emergency situation in Vinnytsia region
The Ministry of Health reports that the region has strengthened control over the cleaning and disinfection of public transport. Fairs and mass events for the sale of home-made products have also been temporarily banned. Distance learning continues in Vinnytsia. The same applies to extracurricular activities, sports and art clubs.
Epidemic statistics show that the source of infection still exists. The causes of the outbreak of hepatitis A can be food or drinking water,” said Igor Kuzin, chief sanitary doctor.
There are 144 patients in the region’s hospitals, 32 adults and 10 children have already been discharged.
The region has also started vaccination against hepatitis A for the circle of contact persons – relatives with whom patients had contact the day before, live together or share a common household. Vaccination of contact persons is usually carried out in the first two weeks after contact with the patient.
In addition to Vinnytsia, cases of viral hepatitis A were detected in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Khmilnyk, Kalynivka, Haisyn and Kozyatyn.
What is hepatitis A
The Ministry of Health notes that hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not provoke the development of chronic liver disease and rarely ends in death. Hepatitis A is most often transmitted by the fecal-oral route. That is, you can get infected through food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. At home, hepatitis A is most often transmitted through dirty hands when an infected person prepares food for all family members.
Symptoms of hepatitis A:
- fever,
- weakness,
- lack of appetite,
- diarrhea,
- vomiting,
- unpleasant sensations in the abdomen,
- urine becomes darker,
- yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
