Hepa A outbreak suspected in Sara barangay
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office is on alert for a possible Hepatitis A outbreak at Brgy. Zerrudo, Sara, Iloilo. But, Dr. Maricon Quiñon of the Provincial Health Office said that they have to confirm it first.
“We will first be sending the blood or the serum of the patients and send it to RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) for confirmation,” she told GMA TV-6.
It will take one to two weeks before the result will be released.
“But based on the clinical findings, mahambal gid naton nga there is indeed a Hepatitis A outbreak,” Quiñon said.
Out of 32 suspected cases who are suffering from jaundice, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, 22 were taken of their blood samples last Saturday during a visit of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office.
Aside from blood serum, the health officers also gave them health education, provided technical assistance for food handlers, and analyzed their water sample.
“We have belief that the first suspected case got the Hepa A virus from their tubig-poso,” Quiñon theorized.
Out of eight families sharing said water pump, six families are affected with jaundice.
But water from the said source is yet to be analyzed.
Quiñon further stated that of the 1,715 population of Brgy. Zerrudo, there were 390 households but there were only 342 toilets for 412 families.
“We therefore conclude, they are sharing one toilet and the same water source. So, the transmission is very fast,” she added.
Further, health personnel noted that the residents’ water pump is less than 15 meters from the pigpen, from the CR, and from the drainage.
“They are also doing their laundry and taking a bath at the tubig-poso, which remains open,” Quiñon said.
Since Hepatitis A could be easily transmitted, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office advocated that residents should ensure that they have a safe water source.
“They should wash their hands thoroughly when doing food handling and after using the comfort room. And those who are suspected to be suffering from Hepatitis A should stay avoid handling food,” Quiñon advised.
Oysters, clams, and shellfishes should also be cooked for at least 1 minute and 30 seconds.
“For those who are fond of buying ice or ice water, they should ensure that the water source is safe,” she added.
According to an online report, Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus. It goes away on its own in almost all cases. Hepatitis A does not lead to long-term liver problems.
The disease is caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is found in the stool of an infected person. It is spread when a person eats food or drinks water that has come in contact with infected stool.
Sometimes a group of people who eat at the same restaurant can get hepatitis A. This can happen when an employee with hepatitis A doesn’t wash his or her hands well after using the bathroom and then prepares food.
Some things can raise your risk of getting hepatitis A, such as eating raw oysters or undercooked clams. The common symptoms are feeling very tired, feeling sick to your stomach, not feeling hungry, losing weight without trying, pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where your liver is), fever, and sore muscles.
Older people with hepatitis A may get yellow skin (jaundice), along with dark urine and clay-colored stools.
