Hepatitis A outbreak at Avoly: slight uptick in cases
There is a slight uptick in the number of persons diagnosed with Hepatitis A after consuming suspected contaminated water at a wedding function held at a house in Avoly panchayat in Muvattupuzha.
'The corresponding number of cases as of June 17 was 58. On June 11, it was 51. The district health authorities expect the cases to go up as the incubation period is usually around 14-28 days. A second wave, if any, will be clear only after two to three weeks,' they said.
Besides residents of Avoly, guests from the nearby panchayat in Manjalloor and Arakuzha had also attended the programme. A total of 150 persons had attended the pre-wedding event. The house is located in Nadukkara ward of the panchayat.
'We have stepped up control measures after the number of confirmed cases had recorded a spike last week. Super chlorination of wells in the Nadukkara and other wards has been carried out,' said Biju, vice-president of Avoly panchayat.
The preliminary inference by the Health authorities had attributed the outbreak to the suspected contamination of water served at the event. It was initially reported that the catering agency had mixed boiled water with cold water. However, the panchayat authorities suspect that the use of ice cubes in the welcome drinks offered to the guest may have caused the viral infection.
The Health department has asked local bodies to step up vigil and create awareness among guests to check out for symptoms associated with the disease that include fever, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated water and food, which might be prepared in/washed in contaminated water, and through close contact with an infected person.
The catering agency has been told to keep a tab on the health condition of its workers, who were deputed to serve food at the event, as the convalescent period for hepatitis A is six weeks.
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