Hepatitis A outbreak subsides, for now
The Chronicle Herald
August 16, 2006
Canada-A summer outbreak of hepatitis A in the Lower Sackville area seems to be in a lull.
The Capital district health authority said in a statement Tuesday that no new cases of the virus have been reported since Aug. 8 and no new suspected cases have been identified.
Public health personnel say they will continue to investigate the outbreak, because hepatitis A has an incubation period of 30 days and could reappear later in the summer.
Since June, 10 people in Lower Sackville have been diagnosed with the virus and 75 people were vaccinated against it. Last week, public health staff sent letters to parents of children who attend Hillside Park Elementary School that provided information on hepatitis A and how it can be prevented.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include diarrhea, dark urine, loss of appetite and light-coloured stool. It is passed in the stool and can be transmitted through hand contact when people don't wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, changing a diaper or preparing food.
Infected people typically develop jaundice with yellowish eyes and skin. The virus usually passes in a few weeks.
