NewsDesk @bactiman63

Taiwan health officials reported this week a significant increase in hepatitis A cases during the first 6 weeks of 2022.

Hepatitis A Vaccine
Image/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

According to the monitoring data of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of February 15, 2022, there were 28 local cases of acute viral hepatitis A, compared with 11 cases during the same period last year 2021.

Officials say 18 of the cases were reported in Thai migrant workers in several cities.

Epidemic investigation found that most of the cases had raw eating habits, such as eating meat (beef or pork) that may be contaminated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges the public to wash their hands properly and pay attention to food hygiene, separate raw and cooked food when handling ingredients, avoid raw or undercooked meals, and use public chopsticks and female spoons when eating together. The department also recommends that people who do not have hepatitis A protective antibodies (negative hepatitis A IgG antibody test) can go to medical institutions to receive 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine at their own expense to reduce the risk of infection.

Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that viral hepatitis A is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, and can be infected by eating water or food contaminated with the virus. Indirect infections can also be caused by contact with food or the mouth. The incubation period of hepatitis A is about 15 to 50 days, with an average of 28 to 30 days. After infection, fever, general malaise, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal discomfort may occur. Jaundice occurs after a few days, and most cases will recover naturally. and lifelong immunity.