Additional cases of hepatitis A infection have been reported to the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH), increasing the number of confirmed cases to 31. DOH staff worked through the holiday weekend to conduct interviews with the newly identified cases in an effort to identify the cause of infection.

“Identifying the source of infection is a challenge,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park. “Hepatitis A has a long incubation period lasting anywhere from two weeks to as long as 50 days. Accurately recalling all of the foods consumed and locations visited during the period when infection could have taken place is challenging for many, especially those who are still feeling ill.”

Patients infected with hepatitis A virus are most contagious during the week before the symptoms start until at least one week after the start of the first symptoms. “Since people are contagious before they feel ill, we are very concerned about the disease unknowingly being spreading to others,” said Health Director Dr. Virginia Pressler.

The virus is found in the stool of people with hepatitis A infection and is usually spread by eating contaminated food or drinking water, and can be spread through close personal or sexual contact. A person who has hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to

others within the same household. For this reason, DOH investigators are currently reaching out to individuals who were in contact with those who have or had hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (a substance made from human blood plasma that contains antibodies to protect the body against diseases) administered within the first two weeks after exposure may provide some protection against the disease. Unvaccinated individuals recently exposed to the disease are encouraged to talk to their healthcare providers about these preventive measures.

DOH continues to encourage the public to review their immunization record and talk to their healthcare provider about vaccination. For a list of vaccinating pharmacies, visit http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/files/2013/07/IMM_Adult_Resource_List.pdf or call the Aloha United Way information and referral line at 2-1-1.

While vaccination provides the best protection, frequent handwashing with soap and warm water after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, or before preparing food can help prevent the spread of Hepatitis A. Appropriately cooking and preparing foods can also help prevent infection.

Additional information about hepatitis A can be found on the DOH website at http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dib/disease/hepatitis-a/.

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Photo of Anthony Marangon Anthony Marangon

Anthony joined Marler Clark as an associate attorney in August 2015, after graduating from Seattle University School of Law with honors. During law school, Anthony worked as an in-house legal intern at Weyerhaeuser Company, where he focused in environmental and natural resources law.

Anthony joined Marler Clark as an associate attorney in August 2015, after graduating from Seattle University School of Law with honors. During law school, Anthony worked as an in-house legal intern at Weyerhaeuser Company, where he focused in environmental and natural resources law. He also served as a summer clerk at the firm of Fortier & Mikko, P.C. in Anchorage, Alaska, and served as a legal extern at the King County Superior Court to Judge (now Justice) Mary Yu, of the Washington State Supreme Court. Anthony spent the last year of law school working as a Rule 9 Legal Licensed Intern with Marler Clark, where he worked closely with Bill Marler and Denis Stearns on research projects that covered a variety of complex legal issues, such as the recovery of emotional distress damages in cases involving consumption of recalled food, and the differing legal standards applicable to the certification of class actions under federal and state laws.