Personal Injury Law

Avoiding Hepatitis A While Traveling

By Hepatitis Lawyer

Jill Blocker over at Eat, Drink and Be wrote a great summary of what to pay attention to while traveling

Spring is here and people who were bundled up in their homes all winter are finally ready to go out into the world, but as the vacation season begins, remembering food and water safety can help prevent painful vacation memories.

Hepatitis A is one of the most vaccine-preventable infections contracted by travelers. Similar to Travelers' Diarrhea, another common traveler's illness, Hepatitis A is spread through food and drink that has come in contact with infected people — often from traces of infected feces — who handle food.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), according to the Mayo Clinic. It causes the liver to inflame, affecting its ability to function. Approximately 10 million people are infected with HAV each year. Symptoms, which often appear between two and six weeks of contraction, can include nausea, abdominal pain, fever, itching and jaundice.

The fatality rate from HAV is generally low, at approximately 0.3 percent. However, in adults older than 50 the fatality rate increased to 1.8 percent.

HAV infections are more common in developing countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Community-wide outbreaks are more likely to occur in developed countries.

'In most intermediate and high anti-HAV-endemic countries, many long-term residents are infected as children, at a time when they may not get symptoms,' according to the CDC. 'Cases of hepatitis A in the resident population will be very low; however, travelers from low endemic settings such as the United States are at risk for HAV infection and should be protected.'

In 2006, 72 percent of travel-related HAV cases were associated with travels to Mexico and Central and South America, according to the CDC.

To protect against Hepatitis A while traveling:

• Avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables, or wash fresh produce with a vinegar-solution before consuming.

• Avoid raw or undercooked meats and foods, which could have been contaminated during harvesting or preparation.

• Beware of shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water.

• Avoid untreated tap water, including ice. Instead, opt for beverages made with boiled water or prepackaged with an intact seal.

• Avoid street-vendor foods, as they could be less regulated.

The best way to prevent HAV is getting a vaccine. In 2006, the HAV was added to the recommended vaccinations for children. The CDC recommends susceptible people traveling to or working in countries with have high or intermediate hepatitis A endemicity should be vaccinated or receive Immunoglobulin before departure. Immunoglobulin (IG) is an injection of plasma already containing the antibody for instant, but temporary protection of HAV.

Avoiding Hepatitis A is a very good idea:

Full post as published by Hepatitis Blog on March 27, 2010 (boomark / email).