McLean County hit by contagious virus

Posted on August 23, 2019
vaccine
The Illinois Department of Public Health is working with local health departments to make hepatitis A vaccines more available. A dozen cases have been reported in McLean County. (WJBC File Photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County has been hit hard by an outbreak of a highly contagious virus affecting the liver.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said 12 people in McLean County have become ill from hepatitis A, of the 153 confirmed cases statewide, since an outbreak was declared last December.

The health department reported a half-dozen cases in Peoria County, three in Champaign County, two each in Tazewell and Ford Counties, and one in Woodford County.

One death from hepatitis A has been reported in Illinois.

The viral disease is spread through sexual contact, sharing drugs, food, and water handled by an infected person.

Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea, joint pain, and jaundice.

A vaccine and thorough handwashing are recommended. The health department said it’s working with local health departments to make the hepatitis A vaccine more readily available. The state agency said it’s requested a large number of vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The following is a link to the report from the Illinois Department of Public Health:

http://www.dph.illinois.gov/hepatitisA

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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