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South Dakota Dept. of Health Reports Hepatitis A Exposure
Posted 5/17/19 (Fri)
On May 16th, 2019, the South Dakota Department of Health notified the public of hepatitis A exposures earlier in May at two restaurants in Keystone, SD. The South Dakota news release can be found here.
Hepatitis A is an acute illness with a discrete onset of any sign or symptom consistent with acute viral hepatitis. Symptoms are fever, headache, malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain with either a) jaundice, or b) elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels.
Symptoms of hepatitis A usually appear about four weeks after exposure, but can start as early as two weeks or take up to seven weeks. People who are exposed to hepatitis A and not previously vaccinated are recommended to receive postexposure prophylaxis.
In addition to the possible South Dakota exposures, there are ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks throughout the U.S. in people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and men who have sex with men. North Dakota healthcare providers are urged to consider hepatitis A in anyone presenting with clinically compatible symptoms.
Additionally, healthcare providers should vaccinate (two doses, six months apart) against hepatitis A according to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations.