Hepatitis Cases Increasing Fast In Five Counties

Health officials for five north-central Idaho counties have reported a higher number of hepatitis A cases than usual in recent months.

Fourteen cases have been reported in the Region II health district since August, twice as many as during the corresponding period last year. Eight cases have been reported since August this year in Latah County alone.

Region II also includes Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis and Idaho counties.

Hepatitis A incidence tends to rise and fall in cycles about every five to seven years, but this year the rest of the state has not seen the same increase, said Alice Vollbrecht, a nurse and epidemiologist with the North Central District Health Department office in Lewiston.

“We’ve had cases in all five counties, including quite an outbreak in Latah County,” Vollbrecht said. “It really seems to be circling this area.”

Vollbrecht said officials have found no reason for the increase. Sometimes cases can all be linked to an infected person at one restaurant, but that is not the case with the latest outbreak. A number of cases have been spread among families, she said.

“Most of these cases can be prevented with proper hygiene,” Vollbrecht said. People with hepatitis should not handle food or eating utensils until after their contagious period has passed, she said.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver most commonly caused by a virus.

Symptoms include fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain, fever and vomiting. Most people recover in a few weeks without complications, but the elderly or others with compromised immune systems may need to be hospitalized.