HEPATITIS A OUTBREAK!
For more information, see below.
REPORT THIS DISEASE TO COBB & DOUGLAS PUBLIC HEALTH IMMEDIATELY
AT: 770-514-2432
For additional reporting options, please click here.
WHAT IS IT?
Hepatitis A (Hep A) is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is highly contagious. The Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool (feces) of an infected person. It is spread through person-to-person contact or contaminated food or water. The Hepatitis A virus can live outside the body for months.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children. Some people with Hep A will have no symptoms.
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal Pain
- Dark Urine
- Clay-colored bowel
- Joint Pain
- Jaundice
It generally begins 2 to 6 weeks after exposure. It usually last for 2 to 6 months. A person is contagious from Hep A up to 2 weeks before the symptoms appear. Alcohol should be avoided and any medications or supplements that could potentially damage the liver.