WA State - Hepatitis A outbreak declared in multiple Counties

[ATCclears]

Hepatitis A outbreak declared in multiple counties

State officials said the outbreak includes 13 confirmed cases: nine in Spokane County, two in King County, one in Snohomish County and one in Pend Oreille County.

"People who are living homeless or who use drugs are at higher risk, particularly if they don't have access to sanitation, restroom facilities and handwashing stations," officials said in a news release.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection that is usually transmitted through the fecal-oral route or by consumption of contaminated food or water, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms of hepatitis A can range from a mild infection lasting a few weeks to a severe illness that can result in liver failure or death, state health officials said. Click here to read more.

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[titsonritz]

Need to take some flame throwers to all these homeless tent cities before the Black Death wipes out half the population.

 

[CountryGent]

Good grief, what a mess. So many of the cities on the west coast (e.g., Los Angeles, Portland, etc.) are turning into petri dishes.

 

[Stomper]

Good grief, what a mess. So many of the cities on the west coast (e.g., Los Angeles, Portland, etc.) are turning into petri dishes.

More like colostomy bags....

 

[Cavedweller]

Need to take some flame throwers to all these homeless tent cities before the Black Death wipes out half the population.

Can we wait 'til fire season is over?

 

[Alexx1401]

Sadly maybe what we need is some good epidemics to ravage some large populations to wake up the damn voters. Nothing else seems to work. The sad part is when this stuff gets going there is always innocents who get caught up in it. If it just cleaned out the deck I would not lose any sleep over it.

 

[Rickenbacher39]

I shower at least once a week so I'm not too worried.
Heck, an L.A. police officer contracted typhoid from working in that cesspool.
It is going to get interesting this summer.

We had a group of homeless attempt to set up camp under an overpass on I-5
a while back. It took the local police just 4 hours to get them on their way.
They sent them south so I assume they are in Portland by now...........

 

[Joe13]

That's why I use gloves at work, wash my hands constantly, use hand sanitizer and cook my own food at home...

 

[Ghoul]

Found this,

Will hand sanitizer kill Hepatitis A virus?

Hepatitis A virus does not have a lipid envelope around it, and therefore it is somewhat tougher than viruses such as influenza.

It might survive the use of hand sanitizers, especially if the virus is present in large amounts, but usually it will work. Soap and water remove the dirt from your hands, which is more effective, whereas hand sanitizers are often just kill organisms without washing them off.

 

[nammac]

Good grief, what a mess. So many of the cities on the west coast (e.g., Los Angeles, Portland, etc.) are turned into petri dishes.

There, corrected it for you

 

[Alexx1401]

That's why I use gloves at work, wash my hands constantly, use hand sanitizer and cook my own food at home...

There is a vaccine to protect from A &B also. Last time I had it the stuff is quite pricey, don't know if it's come down any. I got it long ago when I was working at a place where I often had to "deal with" the dregs. I would expect the County and City workers who have to clean up after these people are given the series. At least I would hope so. It used to be a 3 shot, over 6 months, program to give you the protection. Don't know if they have come up with a better one these days. It was no big deal when I did it, like getting a few flue shots or such. Had no side effects I could feel.

 

[CountryGent]

There, corrected it for you

I do believe you are correct, sir. I may not be completely up on the happenings there, because I avoid those cities ... like the plague.

 

[nammac]

I do believe you are correct, sir. I may not be completely up on the happenings there, because I avoid those cities ... like the plague.

Yes sir, the smart folks all do avoid the dem run cesspools. I limit my Portland interaction to the airport and the annual nutcracker trek, otherwise, Portland is dead to me.

 

[titsonritz]

Can we wait 'til fire season is over?

I got give that some thought, lemme get back to ya.

 

[Lazyfaire]

There is a vaccine to protect from A &B also. Last time I had it the stuff is quite pricey, don't know if it's come down any. I got it long ago when I was working at a place where I often had to "deal with" the dregs. I would expect the County and City workers who have to clean up after these people are given the series. At least I would hope so. It used to be a 3 shot, over 6 months, program to give you the protection. Don't know if they have come up with a better one these days. It was no big deal when I did it, like getting a few flue shots or such. Had no side effects I could feel.

It still is a 3 shot regimen. 1, then 30 days later a second, then 6 months after that a third shot.

 

[Kruel J]

Am I the only one that finds the word "feces" particularly disturbing?

What a surprise this story is.

 

[BrandonQuixote]

That's what these kids get for eating arse, Hep A!

 

[Kruel J]

That's what these kids get for eating arse, Hep A!

Dude.

 

[BrandonQuixote]

Dude.

Calling a spade a spade. Meteoric rise in Hep A, which is acquired via the fecal-oral route...do the butt math!

 

[Kruel J]