Hepatitis A is taking a crazy toll on health in San Jose, Alajuela and Heredia

The Ministry of Health is on maximum alert due to excessive growth of hepatitis A in the country. A simple message is both grim and poignant: 118 cases were reported last year, and 1,435 so far in 2023. The difference is incredible.

Health authorities warn that the number of cases continues to increase month by month this year, with 1,317 more laboratory-confirmed cases in 2023 than last year. “Similar behavior also occurred in 2019, with a total of 1,584 cases,” Salud recalled.

“In the 39th epidemiological week of this year, the province of San José reported the highest number of laboratory-confirmed cases, with 960 cases, followed by the province of Alajuela with 167 confirmed cases, and the province of Eredi in third place. In Alberta, there are 94 confirmed cases. Cases. The province with the fewest confirmed cases is Puntarenas.

“The Ministry of Health has investigated the confirmed cases and their contacts and formulated necessary recommendations and health measures to avoid infection and protect the health of the people. In addition, active monitoring and surveillance of cases is carried out in coordination with other departments. Health institutions,” Saloud explained in a statement.

We all must be vigilant. Wash your hands every time, and pay special attention to washing the food you eat.

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“You should go to your nearest health center if you have symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, general malaise, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) or dark urine (dark urine) ).

“Similarly, parents who have minor children attending school should not send them to education centers if they are sick to avoid spreading the virus to other children or teenagers,” the ministry added.

Hepatitis A is a viral disease that is spread from person to person via the fecal-oral route, and in some cases, such as children under six years of age, it is normal for the infection to be asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. The disease’s incubation period averages 14 to 28 days.

The Ministry of Health calls on the public to take extreme health measures, mainly:

• Wash your hands after using the toilet, before preparing food, after changing diapers, and after coming into contact with feces, blood, and other body fluids of an infected person.
• Wash food thoroughly before eating and avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish.
• If you don’t have drinking water, add four drops of chloride per liter of water or boil it for 20 minutes.
• Don’t buy food from street vendors or from unknown sources.
• Buy packaged foods that are hygienically registered by the Ministry of Health to avoid exposing yourself or increasing your risk of illness.
• Eating food from a place with a sanitary operating license provides greater safety, and those responsible for handling food are aware of the risks they face if it is not handled properly.