There is a hepatitis A outbreak in Pennsylvania.
State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine made that announcement on Monday, declaring there are 171 cases being reported in 36 counties.
Allegheny and Philadelphia counties have been hit the hardest, with anywhere between 31 and 50 cases. Between one and 10 cases have been reported in Butler County.
“The counties hit hardest by this outbreak are Philadelphia and Allegheny, but we have seen an increase of cases throughout much of the state,” Dr. Levine said. “We are taking this action now to be proactive in our response to treating Pennsylvanians suffering from this illnesses and prevent it from spreading. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination.”
Hepatitis A is a liver infection, caused by a virus. It spreads from person-to-person after someone puts something in their mouth that has been contaminated with the fecal matter of a person infected with the virus.
People at risk for contracting the virus are:
- A person that has encountered a person with hepatitis A
- People who use intravenous drugs
- Homeless
- Men that have sex with other men
Symptoms are mild and can last several weeks. More severe infections could last several months and many people infected do not experience any symptoms. Health professionals urge that people remain as hygienic as possible if they feel they have been exposed to someone with Hepatitis A. For any drug users that might think about sharing needles, it is extremely common to pass viruses and illnesses on via sharing the same drug paraphernalia. Men also wanting to engage in sexual acts with other men are being told to ensure they use protection and perhaps even incorporate the likes of some male sex toys that should also be covered with protection to drastically reduce the risk of contracting the virus too.
However, symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and jaundice.
Dr. Levine said the neighbouring states of Ohio and West Virginia have seen more than 2,000 cases since January 2018. Whilst many in this area are getting treatment and pain relief via vaccine and West Virginia medical marijuana card provisions, there are worries that it won’t be enough. By declaring an outbreak, Pennsylvania is eligible for federal funds to purchase additional vaccine if it is needed.
“It’s hard to know for sure why we are experiencing an outbreak of hepatitis A,” Dr. Levine said. “We do know that the commonwealth has seen an increase of diseases like hepatitis C and HIV because of the opioid epidemic”. This epidemic has been catastrophic to many communities, especially as many cannot check the drugs they’re using on their bodies. A Marquis test kit can identify drugs and their ingredients, which tells people exactly what they’re putting into their body. Although taking drugs is not ideal, it would be much safer for people to know what they’re using than using something blindly. It’s also not just Pennsylvania that is experiencing this opioid epidemic that is seemingly increasing HIV and hepatitis C outbreaks, many other states are also reporting increasing numbers, some of which can’t handle the influx of new patients, which is why healthcare facilities in the likes of New Mexico such as Southwest Care (found here at https://southwestcare.org) are taking extra steps in trying to offer their community with HIV and hep C treatment and other health services.
If you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis A, contact your physician for further testing.
While there is no treatment, your doctor can monitor and treat your symptoms. If you are uninsured or underinsured, contact 1-877-PA-HEALTH to find a state health center nearest you
where you can be tested and monitored.
