All cases identified were symptomatic, with fever, jaundice, acholia, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, among others.
An outbreak of hepatitis A detected in the Algarve region in August remains active, with a total of 25 cases to date, the majority in children and young people, the regional health authority told Lusa.
“An outbreak of hepatitis A remains active in the Algarve region, with a total of 25 cases to date, with notification of the first case on 15/08/2024 and the most recent on 26/11/2024”, informed the delegate regional health department in the Algarve in response to the Lusa agency, after the Public Health Unit (USP) of Baixo Alentejo revealed this Friday the existence of an outbreak of hepatitis A, originating in the Algarve, with six cases in Bairro das Pedreiras , in Beja.
In the Algarve, the outbreak has predominantly affected children and young people, with 16 reported cases, and also adults (nine), including a health professional, added the regional health authority.
Those affected are residents of three clusters in the municipality of Faro and one in the municipality of Olhão, “in homes with precarious hygiene and health conditions, which favors the transmission of this type of disease”, explains the same source.
According to the health authority, “outside this community, but epidemiologically linked to this outbreak”, there was one case in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo region, “where the child was temporarily with the family”, and six in the Alentejo region.
All cases identified were symptomatic, with fever, jaundice, acholia, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, among others.
According to the Algarve regional health delegate, an epidemiological investigation was carried out, including environmental, “which was inconclusive as to the origin of the outbreak”.
To prevent the transmission of the disease, contact identification, vaccination against hepatitis A were carried out, with 157 people eligible for this “accepting to be vaccinated”, and information actions for affected families.
Regarding transmission prevention measures, meetings were held with those responsible for the municipalities where the outbreak remains active, also involving institutions and non-governmental organizations that provide support to more vulnerable populations.
The Algarve regional health delegate highlights “the importance of implementing measures to prevent transmission and reinforcing vaccination among individuals at greater risk of exposure” and requests, in case of suspicion, a contact request for SNS24 (808 24 24 24) for screening and counseling.
The Public Health Unit (USP) of Baixo Alentejo reported this Friday that an outbreak of hepatitis A is underway, originating in the Algarve, and six cases have been confirmed in the Bairro das Pedreiras, in Beja.
In a statement, the Baixo Alentejo Health Unit said that, as a measure to prevent and mitigate the transmission of the disease, a community vaccination campaign was carried out in the Bairro das Pedreiras from the 22nd to the 25th of October.
153 children aged up to 18 years were vaccinated, adds USP, remembering that vaccination was aimed at the population indicated in this outbreak and included awareness raising and promotion of preventive measures against the transmission of the disease.
According to USP, the first case of hepatitis A in Bahia was registered on September 18 and the last, associated with the outbreak in Bairro das Pedreiras, began showing symptoms more than a month ago.
