Los Angeles Consulate General of China reminds the Chinese citizens to pay attention to hepatitis A epidemic situation

According to the California Department of Public Health, since the end of last year, California, San Diego and other places had sudden outbreaks of hepatitis A. As of October 13th, 2017, California found 581 cases of infection and 18 deaths. 1995 was the introduction of the hepatitis A vaccine since the nation’s largest contagious hepatitis A outbreak.

On October 13, California Governor Brown announced that the state should be put into a public health emergency status. The California Department of Public Health would need to urgently purchase vaccines, and further distribute them to high-risk groups. At present, the epidemic is mainly in the areas of the homeless, drug users and other places of poor health conditions.

Hepatitis A is mainly transmitted through fecal routes due to ingestion of the virus. This includes carriers of fecal contamination, such as food or water and infection. The latency period is usually 14-28 days, but symptoms include fever, discomfort, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and dark urine or jaundice (skin and white eyes yellow). People with severe infection may experience liver failure and death.

As the hepatitis A virus can survive in the human body for several months and is difficult to kill, the experts expect the epidemic to continue for several years. The Los Angeles Consulate General reminds the Chinese citizens in the area to pay attention to areas of the hepatitis A epidemic, and to pay attention to personal hygiene, using these steps:

First, to ensure food safety, do not eat unclean food or drink raw water.

Second, pay attention to personal hygiene in the use of toilets and after things like changing diapers. Before the production of food, use soap and clean water to wash your hands.

Third, promote the vaccination of all children. Adults who have to enter high-risk areas or will have exposure to high-risk groups should be vaccinated two weeks in advance.

For more information and prevention of hepatitis A, please visit the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information about the epidemic situation in California, please visit the website of the Ministry of Public Health.