Hepatitis A Information

I live in Louisville, Kentucky. We are currently experiencing an outbreak of Hepatitis A and we are about to have quite large numbers of people visiting (click for Official Kentucky Derby Festival Page for all the fun and excitement). I have looked on the CDC, NIH and NCBI websites to read quite a bit of information on Hep A, its prevention, transmission routes, symptoms and treatments (link posted at end of blog) and what I can surmise is this: Hepatitis A is, generally speaking, preventable, it can take almost a month to show up (incubation period), symptoms are fairly common, it can severely impact the liver and we should all use common sense to contain this outbreak.

I am NOT going to get into the pro vaccination vs. anti vaccination conversation, though according to the CDC Hep A diagnosis decreased by 95% since the vaccination was first introduced and only in the last five years (give or take) have we seen an uptick. Hmmm

But I want to share some links to help keep you and your loved ones safe, in keeping your family safe you're also keeping other families safe. So please consider the following simple steps to help contain, minimize and eradicate this Hep A outbreak:

• Wash your hands: Vigorously, soap and warm/hot water, 30 seconds. Before eating. After eating. ALWAYS before using or touching ANYTHING in the restroom. Close the toilet lid before flushing to prevent minute fecal matter particles from exploding everywhere (y'all know that's a thing, right). 
• If you're sick--STAY HOME. Some of the symptoms are simple cold and flu like symptoms, still nobody wants that either. Stay. Home. 
• Get vaccinated: It's a two-parter and your full vaccination is not complete until parts 1 and 2 are administered and they must be at least six months apart. Getting your shot once today may only slightly decrease your chances, but the full double dose increases likelihood of being safeguarded against the disease. 

For visual folks, I lifted this from the Louisville Department of Public Health & Wellness

Some links for more info: 

Louisville Department of Public Health & Wellness

Informacion in Espanol

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Hep A FAQ

So go out, enjoy the festivities and be safe. Find bathrooms to wash your hands frequently (hand sanitizer does not wash the fecal matter off your hands (gross to think about, but it is the #1 way Hep A is spread!) so WASH VIGOROUSLY and OFTEN. 

That's all for today.