HSE issues Mayo Hepatitis A alert due to hike in infections

The Department of Public Health HSE West and North West has been notified of an increase of Hepatitis A cases County Mayo and is following up appropriately.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver.

Symptoms can include fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and jaundice.

Young children with hepatitis A often have mild or no symptoms at all but can pass the infection to others. Hepatitis A can result in severe illness in older persons. Hepatitis A virus is primarily spread from person to person by the faecal-oral route (that is, ingestion of something that has been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person).

Hepatitis A illness usually resolves on its own.

What to look out for?

If you, your child, or a member of your family, develops jaundice (yellowish tinge to the whites of the eyes and/or yellowing of the skin) or other symptoms of hepatitis A (fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort or dark urine) please contact your GP for advice and further investigation.

Good hand hygiene before and after food preparation and food consumption, after toilet use and after helping a child with toileting, may reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis A.

It is recommended not to share toilets or food with anyone who may be infected with hepatitis as a method to reduce the spread of disease.

For more information about Hepatitis A see: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/hepatitis/hepatitisa/factsheets/