Click to Translate to English Click to Translate to French  Click to Translate to Spanish  Click to Translate to German  Click to Translate to Italian  Click to Translate to Japanese  Click to Translate to Chinese Simplified  Click to Translate to Korean  Click to Translate to Arabic  Click to Translate to Russian  Click to Translate to Portuguese  Click to Translate to Myanmar (Burmese)

PANDEMIC ALERT LEVEL
123456
Forum Home Forum Home > Coronavirus Pandemic: State Discussion Forums > Select Your State - And join the discussion > West Virginia
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Hepatitis A
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Now tracking the new emerging South Africa Omicron Variant

Hepatitis A

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Technophobe View Drop Down
Assistant Admin
Assistant Admin
Avatar

Joined: January 16 2014
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 88450
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Technophobe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Hepatitis A
    Posted: May 25 2018 at 7:10am

Hepatitis A outbreak has West Virginia health departments on alert

Updated: May 25, 2018 04:12 AM EDT

WHEELING, W.Va. - A multi-state outbreak of Hepatitis A has health departments concerned across the country and in West Virginia.

The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department said there are no current cases of Hepatitis A in Ohio County or in the Northern Panhandle.

However, there are well over 100 cases in West Virginia. 

The West Virginia DHHR announced late Thursday afternoon that the death of a 33-year-old Kanawha County resident has been linked to the outbreak. 

Most of West Virginia's cases are in the Southern Part of the state in areas like Kanawha as we just mentioned as well as Cabell and Putnam Counties. 

The CDC currently does not recommend that all food service workers get the Hepatitis A vaccination, but the West Virginia DHHR and health departments in Southern West Virginia are recommending it for areas affected. 

"In our jurisdiction in Ohio County we would encourage it," said Howard Gamble, an administrator with the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department. "If individuals are working in food service we would encourage it, but it's not part of the recommended status right now. That's only for the Southern part of the state."

The Wheeling - Ohio County Health Department is vaccinating the area's homeless population for Hepatitis A, as is recommended by the CDC.

 "Those are one of the populations teh CDC identifies as should receive the Hepatitis A vaccine," Gamble said. "Homeless or mobile populations, individuals who inject drugs, people who are incarcerated, men having sex with men, those are the categories we typically recommend they should get vaccine for Hepatitis A." 

The health department will also discuss the vaccine with any individuals who are interested.

Hepatitis A is a fecal to oral transmission and can be contracted as a result of bad hand washing. 

'If you're using gloves, change them frequently when you move from product to product," Gamble recommended. "Wash your hands after you use the restroom before you handle any ready to eat food or start prepping food." 

For more information, visit the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department's website at ohiocountyhealth.com.

Source:   http://www.wtrf.com/news/health/hepatitis-a-outbreak-has-west-virginia-health-departments-on-alert/1197159497


How do you tell if a politician is lying?
His lips or pen are moving.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down