The Ministry of Health will conduct an investigation for an apparent outbreak of hepatitis A in Goicoechea. So far, there are reports of 15 people affected.
Daniel Salas, Head of Health Surveillance, explained that their staff will carry out an analysis of the cases treated at the clinic in the area, as well as the possible sources of contamination and preventive measures.
According to the Ricardo Jiménez Clinic, the outbreak would be in the sector Centeno Güell, however Dr. Salas said they do not know if it is an outbreak within the school or if there is a place or community with the same name, so first they will have to define all this information.
We have had an increase in hepatitis A in some places in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) and, above all, it has to do with poor hygiene. This disease is in Costa Rica but when there is poor hygiene management, when you go to the bathroom and do not wash your hands, if you do not wash them before eating, if there is poor handling of food and you do not wash products properly, or if water is contaminated, there is more risk,”
explained Salas.
Hepatitis A is a contagious disease that is transmitted when a healthy person eats and drinks food contaminated by feces of a person infected with the virus.
These are the clinic’s recommendations for the residents of the area:
-Improve hand washing practices before eating, and before and after going to the bathroom.
-Constantly clean commonly used surfaces (door knobs, remote controls, tables, telephones, etc.).
-Wash food before cooking.
-Talk to your health service if you feel symptoms such as fever, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, intense itching, and dark urine, yellowing of the skin or the eyes.