County reports handful of hepatitis A cases
By Tim Hrenchir
The Capital-Journal
February 1, 2006
State and local health officials are searching for the source of an outbreak that has resulted in four confirmed cases of hepatitis A this week in Shawnee County.
Katie Schurman, community relations specialist for the Shawnee County Health Agency, said the agency's communicable disease team and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Tuesday were interviewing those who were infected and people who are close to them to try to find common activities or connections.
Schurman said hepatitis A is an infection that is transmitted through the oral-fecal route, which means that to be infected a person must have oral contact with something that -- though it might look clean -- is contaminated with the stool, or feces, of an infected person.
Shawnee County experienced an outbreak of hepatitis A in 1998 when the virus spread after uncooked food was handled by a fast food restaurant employee who was infected.
The time frame between infection and the onset of the illness can range from 14 to 50 days, Schurman said.
She said hepatitis A may cause flu-like symptoms that include fever, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. More extreme symptoms include jaundice, liver damage, yellowing of the eyes and skin and, in extreme cases, death.
Schurman said those who may be showing symptoms or want to know more about hepatitis A may contact the health agency's communicable disease program at 368-2037 or visit a National Center for Infectious Diseases Web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/index.htm.
According to that site, vaccines are available for long-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in people ages 1 and older, while immune globulin is available for short-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in people of all ages.
Schurman asked anyone seeking more information about vaccination to contact their physician or call the health agency's immunizations department at 368-2141.
Tim Hrenchir can be reached at (785) 295-1184 or tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com.
