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Disease: Hepatitis A flare-up spreading in NH has already claimed a life

New Hampshire more often than not observes six or seven new hepatitis A cases for every year, except just since November the state has identified 79 new cases.

One of those cases has even claimed the life of an adult Merrimack County, as indicated by the state Division of Public Health Services, which declined to give any additional data about about the victim.

The outbreak has all the earmarks of being expanding in seriousness — 33 new cases were diagnosed in March alone — and public health officials are urging Granite Staters to get vaccinated.

“The number of cases we’re currently seeing is very concerning,” said Beth Daly, chief of the state’s Bureau of Infectious Disease Control.

“What we’re seeing in this outbreak, here in New Hampshire and nationally, is that many of these individuals are people who are using recreational drugs — injectable or non-injectable drugs — and people who are homeless,” she said.

As of late, 18 states have announced hepatitis A flare-ups and 140 deaths in the United States have been ascribed to the disease, as indicated by the Division of Public Health Services.

The disease is infectious and commonly contracted when an individual ingests food or fluid debased by imperceptible measures of hepatitis-A-positive fecal issue.

It can show as fever, loss of hunger, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice, among other symptoms. Hepatitis A also causes liver inflammation, and, in severe cases, it can lead to liver failure resulting in death.

Anybody can contract the virus, yet those most in danger incorporate individuals utilizing recreational medications, individuals encountering homelessness, gay and bi-sexual men, and people with close contact to those individuals, according to the Division of Public Health Services.

While there is no particular treatment for hepatitis A once gotten, the antibody to counteract contamination is exceptionally powerful, specialists state.

Most insurers cover the vaccine and those without insurance can receive it from the Nashua Public Health Department, the Manchester Health Department, Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth, and Concord Regional VNA.

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