New Hampshire Is Tracking Towards A hepatitis A Outbreak
Cases of hepatitis A have rapidly spread across the state, racing into the teens over the last three months.
According to WMUR News 9, there has been a giant uptick concerning cases of hepatitis A in the Granite State. Where six or seven cases are generally seen each year, seven were diagnosed last month alone. Southern sections have been hit the hardest with five in Hillsborough County, and three in Rockingham County. New Hampshire's cases are part of a nationwide outbreak. Dr. Benjamin Chan was quoted in a press release There are large outbreaks of hepatitis A occurring in multiple other states across the country.” “While these outbreaks have often started in individuals experiencing homelessness and those with a substance use disorder, once it is in our communities it can spread very easily even to others without specific risk factors. Thankfully, hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease."
hepatitis A is transmitted from objects, food or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. Officials said the virus can survive for months on surfaces.
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