Report by
Gympie RSL Club linked to Potential Hepatitis A Exposure
1 year ago •source sunshinecoast.health.qld.gov.au • business
Outbreak
217 Mary Street, Gympie, 4570 Queensland, Australia
The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Public Health unit is managing a Hepatitis A case linked to an employee of the Gympie Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL). The ongoing investigation includes the Public Health Unit working with the RSL management, aiming to identify and contact all potentially exposed individuals who face a high risk of developing Hepatitis A.The call extends to anyone who visited the Gympie RSL from July 2023 onwards. The aim is for these individuals to keep a close eye on their own health and that of their family members, and to consult their General Practitioner for testing should they experience any Hepatitis A symptoms.
Hepatitis A is an acute viral infection that can spread from person to person via the faecal-oral route, essentially when contaminated matter is ingested. Initial symptoms may include fever, gastro, holistic aches and pains, nausea, lack of appetite, and abdominal discomfort. The earliest specific symptom usually is dark urine, followed within a few days by jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) and light-coloured bowel movement. From the moment of exposure to the virus, it typically takes an average of 4 weeks (between 2 and 7 weeks) to begin showing symptoms.
Preventative measures against spreading Hepatitis A are imperative, with high handwashing standards and good hygiene being key. Individuals who are ill are advised against attending work or childcare facilities, while vaccination against Hepatitis A also offers protection.
In case you experienced Hepatitis A symptoms, it is important to report it. It can help to detect & resolve issues and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance.
Source: www.sunshinecoast.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/public-health-alert-hepatitis-a2
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