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