New hepatitis A cases bring outbreak total to 12
The Chronicle Herald
August 22, 2006
Public health officials have discovered two new cases of hepatitis A connected to an outbreak in Lower Sackville.
That brings to 12 the number of people diagnosed with the virus since it first appeared in early June.
One of the cases reported Monday is a recent one connected to a person diagnosed earlier in the outbreak. The other was an older case identified as a result of letters sent to parents of students at Hillside Park Elementary School.
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.
No additional cases are suspected but officials say more cases are possible as part of the normal course of the virus.
