Hepatitis A outbreak in Sydney sparks investigation

NSW Health are warning of a Hepatitis A outbreak in Sydney after influx of cases
At least 12 people in Sydney have contracted the disease in last five weeks
Hepatitis A spreads in contaminated food or through poor hygiene

By Daniel Peters For Daily Mail Australia and Aap

Published: 06:53 BST, 5 September 2017 | Updated: 06:53 BST, 5 September 2017

NSW health authorities are warning of a Hepatitis A outbreak after 12 reported cases of the potentially deadly virus in just five weeks in Sydney.

The viral liver disease, which spreads in contaminated food or through poor hygiene, can in some cases bring upon life-threatening liver failure.

No specific food has yet been connected to the outbreak.

Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of Communicable Diseases with NSW Health, said an investigation had been launched to discover the source of the disease spread.

NSW health authorities are warning of a Hepatitis A outbreak after 12 reported cases of the potentially deadly virus in the past five weeks in Sydney (stock image)

The viral liver disease can in some cases bring upon life-threatening liver failure (stock image)

HEPATITIS A: SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES OF THE VIRUS

It is a viral disease which affects the liver
It can be contracted if someone comes in contact with food, drinks or object contaminated with the faeces of an infected person
Fever, nausea and abdominal discomfort are among the symptoms
Dark urine and yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) are also common
Epidemics can be explosive and cause substantial economic loss
A very small proportion of people infected with hepatitis A could die from fulminant hepatitis
Source: NSW Health

‘Hepatitis A is usually contracted overseas in high-risk countries, but 10 of these 12 people notified to NSW Health since July 26 have had no recent overseas travel,’ she said on Tuesday.

‘Travellers to high-risk countries and anyone at higher risk of infection, including men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, sewerage workers and childcare workers, should ensure that they are vaccinated against hepatitis A.’

There have been between 41 and 82 cases of Hepatitis A notified to NSW Health each year since 2013, mostly in people returning from high-risk countries.

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that spreads in contaminated food or through poor hygiene.

Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fever and yellowing of the skin, dark urine and pale stools.

The risk of spreading hepatitis A can be reduced by washing hands thoroughly, particularly after going to the toilet, touching soiled linen or items, changing nappies and before preparing or eating food.

Several hepatitis A outbreaks have been reported internationally in the past six months where hepatitis A is usually uncommon, including in Europe and California.

Hepatitis A typically spreads in contaminated food or through poor hygiene (stock image)

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