Increases jaundice cases on complaints

Increased hepatitis A infections on the Baltic island Rügen

02/13/2013

On complaints in the past two months more and more people have contracted contagious jaundice, reported the district of Vorpommern-Rügen in a recent press release. In order to prevent the spread of hepatitis A diseases, those affected were isolated and „extensive vaccinations (so-called Riegelungsimpfungen) carried out in the close contact persons of the patients“, so the official message.

Since December last year, according to the district of Vorpommern-Rügen on the Baltic island at least nine people were suffering from jaundice (hepatitis A). Medical officer Jörg Heusler explained that the patients were isolated and so far around 300 close contact persons were vaccinated against the contagious hepatitis A virus. In addition, extensive information materials had been distributed. „In each individual case, the specialist health service has made contact with the patients, their families or the facilities they are visiting immediately after the illness has become known“, reported the district Vorpommern-Rügen.

Nine Jaundice Cases on Rügen since December
In December, the first hepatitis A infection was detected in a child „visited the daycare in Bergen“, so the message of the authorities. Since then, there have been other cases of jaundice „occurred in families, schools and dormitories in the villages of Bergen, Patzig, Sassnitz and Prora.“ According to the district of Vorpommern-Rügen, all infections could be linked to the first sick child. So far, about 500 close contacts have been identified, of which just under 300 have received vaccinations. But „With each new case of illness, the number of close contacts continues to increase“ and the risk of spread of hepatitis A infections is rising, reports the district.

Hepatitis A vaccinations for contact persons
Therefore I have „The Health Service, in consultation with the State Office for Health and Welfare and the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, asked for support from the physicians working in the branch.“ All close contact persons will be offered a hepatitis A vaccine, with vaccine protection already being available after about two weeks in about 95 percent of the vaccinated. Beyond that „special hygiene measures are required in the Community bodies concerned and in the households.“ The district counsels the contact persons urgently to visit their home or pediatrician. The same applies to the occurrence of typical jaundice symptoms.

Symptoms of jaundice disease
Hepatitis A infections cause inflammation of the liver „After an incubation period of two to seven weeks, symptoms of headache, body aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen, fever, and occasionally diarrhea may first be noticeable“ warns the district Vorpommern-Rügen. Increased liver values ​​may also indicate hepatitis A disease. In addition, in the further course „the yellow coloration of the eyes and the skin, which determines the name of the disease“ according to the communication from the authorities. In childhood, the disease is usually milder than in later years, often completely symptomless and heal in most of the affected without consequences. The sick children are „two weeks before the appearance of the first symptoms until one week after the onset of yellowing infectious.“ (Fp)