Health office allays fears about hepatitis A spread
July 20, 2005
KnoxNews
Health officials reported Monday that investigations have found no new or pending cases of hepatitis A in Campbell or Scott counties.
A "cluster" of eight confirmed cases reported since June 23 - seven in Campbell County, one in Scott - were "primarily in two extended families," said Sandy Halford of East Tennessee Regional Health Office's communicable disease control. That "lessens the likelihood that there has been any public exposure" to hepatitis A, she added.
Halford also said health officials have not found evidence that a restaurant is involved. "I know that's something the people of Campbell County worry about," she said.
Hepatitis A is spread by poor hygiene or contact with an infected person.
ETRHO is still looking at whether these latest cases might be linked with an outbreak of 23 hepatitis A cases in April in Campbell, Anderson and Scott counties. The source of that outbreak was never confirmed.
