Hepatitis A cases still high in 2 local counties

Butler County and Montgomery County have highest state totals.

Montgomery and Butler continue to have the highest number of hepatitis A cases in Ohio as part of a statewide outbreak.

Montgomery and Butler counties continue to have the highest number of hepatitis A cases in Ohio as part of a statewide outbreak.

There have been 919 recorded cases of the viral liver disease in Ohio as of Nov. 19, ranging from a three-year-old to an 81-year-old, according to Ohio Department of Health. That includes 169 cases in Butler County and 143 cases in Montgomery County.

For 2012 to 2016, the median number of annual hepatitis A cases recorded in Ohio was 38 cases.

The viral liver disease spreads when a person ingests fecal matter from an infected person.

Ingesting a microscopic amount of infected fecal matter can spread t he virus and good hygiene reduces its spread. There are also vaccines available at Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County.

There has been one death recorded in Montgomery County as part of the outbreak and about 64 percent of people with recorded cases have been hospitalized.

People that are at high risk of contracting the virus include:

■ People with direct con- tact with individuals infected with the virus

■ Men who have sex with men

■ People who use street drugs whether they are injected or not

■ People who are incar- cerated

■ People experiencing homelessness

■ People who have trav- eled to other areas of the U.S. currently experienc- ing outbreaks

Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, low appe- tite, stomach pain, nausea, clay-colored stools and jaun- dice. People with hepatitis A can experience mild illness lasting a few weeks to severe illness lasting several months.

People who believe that they are at high risk for hepatitis A infection should contact their health care provider or local health department for information about vaccination.

People who know that they have been exposed to someone with hepatitis A should contact their provider or local health department to discuss post-exposure vaccination options.

The virus is vaccine preventable and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the hepatitis A vaccine for all children at age 1 and for at-risk individuals.

Health care providers, retail pharmacies and clinics, and local health departments can provide vaccinations.