Hepatitis A outbreak discovered in Walnut Ridge
by April 26, 2018 3:44 pm 424 views
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is warning of a possible Hepatitis A exposure after an employee at the Doublebee’s gas station in Walnut Ridge tested positive for the virus.
Hep A is a contagious liver disease. Doublebee’s is located at 1003 U.S. Highway 63 near the Walnut Ridge/Hoxie bypass.
Anyone who ate at this facility between April 7 and April 18, 2018 should seek care immediately if they have never been vaccinated against Hep A or are unsure of their vaccination status, ADH warned. There are no specific treatments once a person gets Hep A; however, illness can be prevented even after exposure by getting the vaccine or a medicine called immune globulin. This medicine contains antibodies to Hep A and works best if given within two weeks of exposure to the virus, ADH stated.
Those who may have been exposed will need a vaccine or medicine in the next week in order to prevent illness. Anyone who ate at this location and does not live in the area should contact their healthcare provider.
People without symptoms under one year of age are too young to be vaccinated so caregivers should call their health care provider for medicine. Those one year of age and older and have never been vaccinated for Hep A should get the vaccine. Those who are pregnant, have chronic illness or liver disease are especially encouraged to consult with their doctor for immune globulin.
To date this year, 13 cases of Hep A have been reported in this outbreak. Five of the cases have involved food service workers. All 13 of the cases have been in adults.
“The number of cases in this Hep A outbreak are continuing to rise,” said Dr. Dirk Haselow, state epidemiologist. “There are numerous Hep A outbreaks occurring across the country. We are encouraging everyone in the county and surrounding areas to be aware of the risk factors for getting Hep A.”
It is usually spread when a person ingests tiny amounts of fecal matter from contact with objects, food or drinks contaminated by the feces, or stool, of an infected person. Hep A can also be spread through unprotected sex or sharing of injection drugs, Haselow said.
Typical symptoms of Hep A include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), according to ADH. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. A person can transmit the virus to others up to two weeks before and one week after symptoms appear. The virus can cause illness anytime from two to seven weeks after exposure.
If infected, most people will develop symptoms three to four weeks after exposure. Many people, especially children, may have no symptoms. Older people typically have more severe symptoms. Up to one in three adults are hospitalized. Almost all people who get Hep A recover completely and do not have any lasting liver damage, although they may feel sick for months.