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CDC announces year's first fatal hepatitis A case

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday announced this year's first fatal case of hepatitis A. The victim was a 30-year-old man who died four days after he was hospitalized.

So far this year, 82 new cases of hepatitis A have been reported, 47 affecting people under the age of 30.

"We strongly advise young people to pay particular attention to food sanitation when dining out," said CDC Deputy Director Lin Ting (林頂), urging people to avoid drinking untreated water and eating food from unknown sources.

Lin said the man was sent to a hospital in southern Taiwan on March 11. He was reportedly unconscious by the time he was brought in. The local CDC was notified the next day of his case. The man died of liver and kidney failure on March 14.

Autopsy reports later confirmed the underlying cause of death was hepatitis A, Lin said, urging people, especially those who habitually eat out, to take extra precautionary measures to inspect the cleanliness of food in restaurants.

"In earlier years, hepatitis A was very prevalent in Taiwan. Most people above the age of 50 are carriers. However, the drastic improvement in water and food sanitation efforts by the government has greatly reduced the transmission of the disease," Lin said.

But the high rate of infection this year so far, he said, has become an alarming cause of worry for the government.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. The symptoms include jaundice, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.

It is usually spread from person to person by contact with the stool of a person infected with hepatitis A. According to CDC statistics, only 42 new cases of hepatitis A infection were reported at this time last year. The numbers for the previous four years were 57, 62, 49 and 45.

The sharp increase this year, especially among people under the age of 30, shows that young people are more prone to the disease.

The young people's lack of antibodies and their habit of eating out, coupled with increasing tourism to and from Southeast Asia and China have all contributed to the recent hike, he said.

A hepatitis A vaccine is available in Taiwan. Those who are interested in getting boosters should contact their local health authority. The cost for adults is approximately NT$1,500 to NT$2,000 for each dosage and NT$1,000 for children. People must receive dosages to gain the maximum protection against the infectious disease.
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