Shock warning over faecal-oral disease

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) Public Health Unit confirmed on Monday they have been managing a case of the viral an infection in an individual residing in Gympie, north of Brisbane.

Hepatitis A, also referred to as infectious hepatitis, is an an infection of the liver attributable to the hepatitis A virus.

It is unfold from individual to individual by the faecal-oral route, together with whether or not the faeces of an infectious particular person have contaminated one thing that’s put into another person’s mouth.

The particular person labored on the metropolis’s RSL membership, the SCHHS stated in a press release.

“(We) are working closely with the RSL management and contacting all known persons exposed to the case while potentially infectious and who are at high risk of developing hepatitis A,” the assertion reads.

In their assertion, the SCHHS urged anybody who had been to the Gympie RSL since July to observe their well being and see their GP in the event that they introduced with signs of hepatitis A.

Symptoms embrace fever, generalised aches and pains, nausea, lack of urge for food and belly discomfort, whereas acute hepatitis A infections embrace darkish urine, jaundice and pale colored bowel motions.

According to Queensland Health, the illness is extra severe in adults than youngsters the place it sometimes presents as a severe, disabling illness lasting months.

“The time between when a person is exposed to the virus to when they may develop symptoms averages 4 weeks, with a range of 2 – 7 weeks,” the SCHHS stated in a press release.

In exceptionally uncommon instances, it could possibly trigger liver failure and even dying.

Methods to forestall the unfold of the illness embrace:

• Good hygiene and excessive handwashing requirements.
• Not presenting to work or childcare whereas sick
• Being vaccinated in opposition to hepatitis A.