By Cheryl Welch
Staff Writer, Star News Online
cheryl.welch@starnewsonline.com
New Hanover County health officials have asked for help dealing with an outbreak of Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and can lead to jaundice.
The county, which normally sees three to four cases of Hepatitis A each year, has had 15 confirmed cases this year and officials expect more. Twelve of the cases have been since July 8, and health officials don’t expect to be out of the woods for at least a couple of months.
At least a few of the people infected were hospitalized. None have died.
“We want to try to nip this in the bud, hopefully,” said Janet McCumbee, New Hanover County Health Department personal health services manager.

Ms. McCumbee said the department’s epidemiology team has connected the dots of the last 12 cases to an infected man who was a busboy at a local restaurant.
New Hanover County Health Board members were astonished when Ms. McCumbee explained at a Wednesday morning meeting the elaborate web of how the infected people came in contact with the busboy.
This is the reason local officials asked for another set of eyes on the case, noted state epidemiologist Jeffrey Engel, who said these outbreaks can become complicated and difficult to track.
Dr. Engel responded to the request by sending a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologist here who is stationed with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
“He’s poised to jump on these things for us,” he said.
The CDC epidemiologist is in Wilmington part of this week, aiding the health department in reaching and treating people who might have had contact with an infected person.
The CDC epidemiologist is in Wilmington part of this weekCQ8/30-9/3, aiding the health department in reaching and treating people who might have had contact with an infected person.
So far the department has found 163 people who were exposed to the disease and treated 116 of them with immune globulin injections. These shots give temporary immunity from the disease.
Nine of the people had already received the Hepatitis A vaccines and were not at risk. Others either declined the shot or received treatment elsewhere.
Of those exposed were 63 restaurant workers and 38 workers and children from Adventure World Child Development Center on Long Leaf Hills Drive. None of these people developed disease symptoms.
The disease is spread person to person by infected fecal matter.
Dr. Engel said this outbreak it not something the general public needs to panic about, but it is something they need to be aware of.
“It is not widespread,” he said, adding anyone with symptoms of the disease should contact their local health department and seek medical treatment because this is not a disease that should be taken lightly.
Although somewhat common in the United States, Hepatitis A can lead to liver damage and death.
In November 2003, more than 500 people became sick and three died from the disease in western Pennsylvania.
Other outbreaks throughout the country at about the same time were linked to contaminated green onions served in restaurants.
“We’re out there protecting the public’s health,” said David Rice, New Hanover County Health Director. “People need to take precautions — wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.”
Cheryl Welch: 343-2315
cheryl.welch@starnewsonline.com