What do you know about hepatitis in the outbreak of Los Angeles

Public health officials in the Los Angeles Province announced the outbreak of hepatitis A, a very infectious liver infection that a virus can, in rare cases, has caused severe disease.

The situation, which is usually determined in less than 50 people in Los Angeles County every year, was at least 138 people in 2024, the cases remained unusually high so far in 2025. Officials say the levels of the virus in local wastewater suggest These numbers are hidden.

Here is what to know.

How is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A virus is spread through the so -called oral road, which means that it is eaten through food or drinks contaminated by microscopic parts of the stool of an infected person. It can also spread through close contact with a person carrying the virus, even if no symptoms appear.

People who are not infected are often exposed to a greater risk of contracting hepatitis A because they have limited access to the appropriate toilets and facilities that wash hands. The virus is also more common among travelers to places with poor sewage, men who have sex with men and people who use drugs.

But officials say that many recent cases have occurred in people who do not have risk factors. They do not yet know the reason, but Dr. Timothy Brurora, a gastric doctor and epidemic specialist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said he prompted him to worry about two things: Food pollutionAnd the rotation of society.

He said: “If you are practicing good hygiene in a society with access to drinking water, you should not see much of this.” “Something happens – but exactly what this is, we don’t know yet.”

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A?

The first signs of infection can look like a classic stomach insect: fever, fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite, followed by vomiting and diarrhea. Over time, people with infection can suffer from skin, yellow eyes, dark urine and pale stools.

One of the challenges facing the endowment of hepatitis A is that tracing contact can be almost impossible. It can be incubated infection for up to seven weeks before the symptoms appear, and anyone who carries the virus can spread it for up to two weeks before it feels the disease.

In addition, Dr. Edward Jones Lopez, an infectious disease specialist at the University of South California, said, so they do not visit their doctor, who in turn does not test the blood and inform the case.

Severe symptoms are often seen in older adults, people with chronic liver conditions, and those who suffer from immune system weakness or HIV in rare cases, hepatitis A can be fatal. In this fascism, at least seven people died. This may seem unusually high, but officials believe that much larger people have had large numbers of official numbers. Most of them may have been without symptoms, or showed mild symptoms enough to be defined wrong.

How is hepatitis A treat?

There are no specific antiviral drugs for hepatitis A. The infection usually replaces itself within a few weeks, and most people do not have permanent damage to the liver. But for some, the hospital can be necessary.

In rare cases, the infection can turn into acute liver failure called hepatitis, which may require implantation, said Dr. Jones Lopez. “It can progress very quickly – this is a very serious disease.”

If you think you may be infected, be sure to visit your doctor, drink a lot of fluids, and get enough comfort.

How can I avoid it?

The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination. The system – two doses of the vaccine, provides at least six months separately – protection for life. It has been routinely granted to children over the past two decades, but many adults and above have not received shots unless they are in a high -risk group.

“The fact that the outbreak of the disease occurs outside the traditional population,” said Dr. Ann Remo, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

If you are not immune but you know that you have been exposed to a person carrying the virus, then the rapid vaccination can prevent your infection. Experts say that some people who suffer from weakening of the immune system who are exposed can also benefit from the receiving of immunosuppressants as well. Good hygiene is a wise protective scale for all; Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, and before preparing food.