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Hepatitis a

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Hepatitis A
Krista Qiuincel
SCI/162
November 16, 2014
Stacy Lopez

Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A can also be called HAV (Hepatitis A Virus). HAV is a part if the Picornaviridae family and Hepatovirus class. Hepatitis A was isolated by Purcell in 1973. Hepatitis A can only be carried by humans. Animals and insects cannot carry the HAV. HAV is an icosahedral (having twenty sides), non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA infection. It is twenty-seven to thirty-two nm in diameter. Only seven HAV genotypes have been distinguished. Four out of the seven are of human origin.
The Hepatitis A virus is found in the feces of people who have contracted the virus. The virus is spread easily when there is poor sanitation or personal hygiene. Therefore it is commonly transmitted in water or food that has been contaminated with the stool containing HAV. Three examples are eating foods that were contaminated when they were handled, eating raw fish that were in water that was contaminated by HAV and drinking contaminated water or ice.
Between March 30, 2013 and July 25, 2013 there were 162 confirmed cases of HAV in ten different states. Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wisconsin. Cases in Wisconsin were from exposure to the Townsend Farms products in California. The cases that were reported in New Hampshire were from exposure during travel to Nevada and the case that was reported in New Jersey was from household contact with a confirmed case from Colorado. 71 people were hospitalized during this outbreak. There were no deaths during this time. The age range for these 162 cases was from 1 to 84years old. This outbreak could have been worse but thankfully it was contained and treated before it got worse.
People with Hepatitis A do not always have any symptoms. It is said that adults are more likely to have symptoms then children. The symptoms that you may experience if you contact HAV include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain and jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin or eyes. If you show symptoms they usually occur two to six weeks after exposure to the virus. The symptoms usually last less than two months. There is not a drug that you take in you have Hepatitis A. Most doctors recommend rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids. When you have HAV you will feel sick for a few months before you begin to feel better.
Hepatitis A can be prevented. The best prevention for this virus is the Hepatitis A vaccine. The vaccination is highly recommended for all children, travelers to certain countries, and for people with a high risk of getting the virus. Some people should get the vaccine more than other just like with the flu shot. A few example of those that are recommended to get the vaccine are all children at age 1, men who have sexual contact with other men, users of injection and non-injection illegal drugs, people with chronic liver diseases, people who are treated with clotting-factor concentrates, and people who work with Hepatitis A infected animals or in a Hepatitis A research laboratory.

References
CDC.gov. (2013, November 19). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/a/afaq.htm#
FoodSafetyNews.com. (2014, Septemer 24). Retrieved from http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/09/cdc-hepatitis-a-outbreak-now-at-162-cases-in-10-states/#.VGfyn_kz9yU
Gilroy, R. K. (2014, October 28). EMedicine. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/177484-overview
WebMD. (2014, Juy 09). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepa-guide/digestive-diseases-hepatitis-a

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