Lower Sackville hepatitis A cases on rise
The Chronicle Herald
Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 9, 2006
Three more people in Lower Sackville have been found to be infected with hepatitis A, public health officials announced Tuesday.
These cases are connected to a local outbreak that began in early June. Last week, the Capital district health authority said seven cases had been identified at that point.
No new cases are suspected, but surveillance will continue for some time.
One infected person was a student at Hillside Park Elementary School, and another works at Rock Church.
Public health staff have now vaccinated 75 family members, friends and close associates of the 10 confirmed cases.
Hepatitis A is passed in the stool and can be transmitted through hand contact when people don't properly wash after using the bathroom or changing a diaper and before preparing food. Its flu-like symptoms include diarrhea and loss of appetite, dark urine and light-coloured stool. Infected people typically develop jaundice with yellowy eyes and skin. The virus usually passes in a few weeks.
