The Passaic Public Schools district has been notified that a confirmed case of Hepatitis A has been reported at Passaic High School, according to a letter to parents from Edward Rowbotham, Supervisor of Health Services Tuesday.

Hepatitis A Image/CDC
Hepatitis A Image/CDC

Rowbotham notes that local and state officials believe that the chance of spread is small; however, they want to make parents and staff aware of hepatitis A and prevention steps they can take.

To ensure safety for members of our learning community, Passaic High School has undergone a thorough cleaning to disinfect the entire building. We have been working in collaboration with local health officials. With their assistance and your vigilance, we can ensure that we maintain a safe and healthy school community.

 

In a letter to staff, anyone who ate food from the Passaic High School Teachers’ Cafeteria between Jan. 15 and Jan. 30 was asked to contact the district’s health services supervisor.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.

Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces or stool from an infected person.

Not everyone has symptoms. If symptoms develop, they usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after becoming infected and can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice.

There is no specific treatment once symptoms appear, but a vaccination can help lessen the effects of the disease if given within 14 days of exposure. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

The best way to control the spread of hepatitis A and many other illnesses is through proper hand washing, especially after using the restroom, changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food. Hand washing should include 20 seconds of vigorous soaping of all parts of the hands, especially between fingers and under fingernails.