Case not connected with recent ones
By ANSLEY HAMAN, hamana@knews.com
April 29, 2005
A Powell High School student tested positive for hepatitis A on Thursday, but Knox County Health Department officials said the case is not connected with recent ones in surrounding counties.
The student received confirmation of the viral disease, which health officials suspect he contracted on a mission trip to Guatemala, said Charity Menefee, Health Department spokeswoman.
The student’s pediatrician alerted the Health Department early in the week of the possible case. An investigation ensued, but no precautions were taken until the student received confirmation of the results around noon Thursday.

“We were ready to take action as soon as he found out today,” said Mark Jones, Health Department director.
Powell High School administrators sent home letters with each student explaining the situation, said Russ Oaks, spokesman for Knox County Schools.
By 2 p.m. Thursday, the Health Department had administered at least 15 shots to the student’s family and friends, Jones said.
Hepatitis A symptoms usually include fatigue, dark urine, nausea and vomiting, Menefee said. There is about a 30-day incubation period in which patients typically do not feel the effects of the disease, which is not chronic.
Approximately five cases of hepatitis A are recorded in Knox County each year, Jones said. Most are isolated incidents.
This case is unrelated to those reported in Campbell, Scott and Anderson counties in recent weeks, Menefee said.
Officials have confirmed at least 13 hepatitis A cases in Campbell County, four in Scott County and one in Anderson County.
More than 1,200 people have received immunizations in connection with the recent outbreak of the virus.
The East Tennessee Regional Health Department announced that there was no single restaurant or event responsible for the outbreak.
Ansley Haman may be reached at 865-342-6430.