NewsDesk @bactiman63

According to the latest data from the Health Surveillance Directorate, to date an outbreak of hepatitis A cases has been reported at the International Corporate Center (CCI), located in San José, accounting for a total of 13 people with this virus, of which nine have been confirmed by the laboratory and four are pending results.

Image/CDC (cropped)

Hepatitis A is a viral disease that is transmitted from person to person through the fecal-oral route, and in some cases, such as in children under six years of age, it is usual for the infection to occur without symptoms or with very mild symptoms. The incubation period of this disease on average is 14 to 28 days.

The main symptoms are yellowing of the skin (jaundice), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

The Ministry of Health calls on the population to take extreme hygienic measures, mainly:

  • Wash hands after going to the toilet, before preparing food, after changing diapers, and when coming into contact with feces, blood, and other bodily fluids from an infected person.
  • Wash food well before eating, avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish.
  • If you do not have drinking water, chlorinate the water with four drops per liter of water or boil it for 20 minutes.
  • Do not buy food from street vendors, or of unknown origin.
  • Buy packaged food that has the sanitary registry of the Ministry of Health so as not to expose yourself or increase the risk of getting sick.
  • Consuming food in places with a health operating permit offers greater security that the person responsible for handling food is aware of the risks to which they are exposed if it is not done correctly.

Likewise, people are urged to immediately go to the health services in case of symptoms, as well as to comply with the guidelines of both the treating physician and the Ministry of Health.

Among the actions carried out by the Ministry of Health, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA), municipalities and local organizations, immediate intervention measures were coordinated for a comprehensive approach to the outbreak.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube

Similarly, all suspected cases are treated in the CCSS health services, while AyA monitors water samples from the aqueduct to ensure that the water is suitable for human consumption.

Both the Regional Directorates of the CCSS and the Ministry of Health intensified health promotion and prevention activities, using all local media to inform the population about the disease, existing cases and hygiene measures in food preparation and handling, personal hygiene measures for the prevention of Hepatitis A.