Hepatitis ‘A’ case confirmed in Taber

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The Town of Taber was made aware by Alberta Health Services on July 14, 2017 of a confirmed case of Hepatitis ‘A’ in an individual who served food and drinks at the St. Mary School graduation banquet at the Taber Community Centre on June 30th, 2017.

The facility was inspected by AHS today and has passed all inspections with no health and safety concerns noted within our facility at all.

In a media release from Alberta Health Service Dr. Lena Derie-Gillespie, Medical Officer of Health, Alberta Health Services – South Zone said “While we believe the risk to the public is low, Hepatitis ‘A’ is a serious infection. As a precaution, anyone who consumed food or drink at this location is advised to monitor themselves and their family for symptoms until August 20, 2017.”

Hepatitis ‘A’ is an infection of the liver caused by a virus.

Spread through the fecal-oral route, individuals typically contract Hepatitis ‘A’ through direct contact with an infected person; however, individuals can also contract the illness indirectly by ingestion of contaminated food or water.

Illness can occur within 15 to 50 days after exposure to the virus, but usually does within 28 to 30 days. Individuals can be infectious one to two weeks before symptoms occur until at least one week after the onset of illness.

Symptoms of Hepatitis ‘A’ may include: tiredness; poor appetite; nausea and vomiting; abdominal pain and fever; followed by dark-coloured urine, light-coloured stools, and yellowing of eyes and skin several days later. Some people, especially young children, may get hepatitis ‘A’ infection without noticing any symptoms; however, they are still infectious to others.

Individuals who develop such symptoms between June 30, 2017 and August 20, 2017 are advised to immediately contact Health Link at 811.

Individuals who have had Hepatitis ‘A’ infection in the past or who have previously received an appropriate series of Hepatitis ‘A’ vaccine are not at risk of infection. There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis ‘A’, but it can be prevented through immunization. Please contact your primary health care provider if you require immunization or further information.

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