In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in the Lisbon area of Portugal, health and drug officials decided to offer free vaccinations in an attempt to get the outbreak under control, according to a Portugal News Online report.
The National Health Board (DGS) has requested around 7,000 doses to be offered at the Martim Moniz health centre in Lisbon.
The hepatitis A outbreak has now reached 123 cases. primarily in adult men who have sex with men (MSM).
”This can happen to any individual with any sexual orientation, but what has been so far described, in fact, is a predominance of cases in men – not exclusively – but comparatively many more cases in males than females. And among males, men who have sex with men seem to be more affected,” explained the DGS spokesperson.
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 the virus from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces or stool from an infected person.
Men who have sexual contact with other men is considered a risk factor.
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- Europe: Hepatitis A outbreaks in MSM
