Premium
Briefly Noted
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
alcoholism and drug abuse weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7591
pISSN - 1042-1394
DOI - 10.1002/adaw.32120
Subject(s) - outbreak , medicine , jaundice , diarrhea , hepatitis a , diarrheal disease , disease , environmental health , vaccination , hepatitis , public health , acute hepatitis , virology , gastroenterology , pathology
Public health officials in Massachusetts are concerned about a hepatitis A outbreak in the state, particularly among the homeless and those with substance use disorders. Since April, there have been 65 cases of acute hepatitis A in the state, almost half of them in Boston. Hepatitis A is a liver disease that is preventable by vaccine. It is highly contagious, and no specific treatment exists. Symptoms include fever, jaundice and diarrhea. It is spread through oral‐fecal contact or contaminated food and water. In addition to vaccination, hand‐washing is an effective way to prevent spreading the disease.