In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Portugal, Portugal has reported 280 confirmed cases of hepatitis A, out of a total of 327 reported since the beginning of the year, according to the latest report by the Directorate-General for Health (DGS).

Portugal map/CIA
Portugal map/CIA

According to data from the DGS, this outbreak, which began at the beginning of the year and affects other European countries, affected mainly men (91%) and in more than half the cases (54%) the contagion was due to sexual contact.

The majority of reported cases occurred in the region of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (256).

The DGS, in view of the hepatitis A outbreak, foresees the reinforcement of vaccination before major events such as Arraial Pride Lisboa, WorldPride Madrid 2017 or the major summer festivals, advises the adoption of preventive measures during the initiatives and, Surveillance of symptoms compatible with those of hepatitis A.

According to the DGS, since April 3, approximately 2,100 vaccines have been administered, an average of 47 / day, of which 81% in the Lisbon region and Vale do Tejo, almost all in a pre-exposure context.

In the European Region, 15 countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) reported 1173 cases related to the three distinct multi-country hepatitis A outbreaks as of 16 May 2017.

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