‘No outbreak’ as hepatitis A cases top 50

MORE than 50 cases of hepatitis A – a viral infection that can lead to jaundice and serious illness in adults – were reported in Port Elizabeth in the last year.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) medical officer for outbreak response, Dr Ayanda Cengimbo, confirmed that all laboratory-confirmed cases of hepatitis A must be reported to them – but they had no knowledge of any of these cases.

"The district Department of Health communicable diseases control coordinator also has no knowledge of a suspected hepatitis A outbreak in the district."

Cengimbo said that hepatitis A, also known as "infectious hepatitis", was a virus spread by faecal matter, or any water and food contaminated with infected faecal matter.

"Hepatitis A is endemic in South Africa. We found, however, that those who live in poorer conditions become immune to it so it is usually people in better-off areas who will contract the disease.

Last week during a sitting of Nelson Mandela Bay's public health committee, the following numbers of cases of hepatitis A were reported on by the Health Department:

• In the Motherwell, Bluewater Bay and Colchester area, 21 cases of hepatitis A were reported;
• In the sub-district that includes the Uitenhage and Despatch area, there were nine reported cases of hepatitis A;
• A total of 25 cases were reported in Nelson Mandela Bay's northern areas, central city and western suburbs.

Hepatitis infection can be mild in children but it can be a very serious disease with potentially fatal complications in adults and high-risk groups.

Neither municipal spokesman Kupido Baron nor Health Department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo had responded to requests for comment by the time of going to press. - Estelle Ellis

SYMPTOMS

ACCORDING to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, those with hepatitis A may have the following symptoms:

•  Often no symptoms in children;
•  Some people infected with hepatitis A may develop jaundice; and
•  This is often preceded by symptoms that include loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and fever and flu-like symptoms.

How hepatitis A spreads:

•  It can spread between people through some types of sexual contact.
•  It can spread through contact with contaminated faeces.
•  The incubation period for the virus is 15-50 days, with an average of 28 days.
•  A person who has hepatitis A will remain infectious for one to two weeks following the onset of jaundice

How you can prevent infection:

• Washing hands and food before consumption;
• According to the NICD, the virus can survive for prolonged periods under high levels of environmental stress but can be killed by water hotter than 85°C and exposure to household bleach; and
• Better sanitation.

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