Hepatitis An Outbreak in Kerala

Reports of a massive Hepatitis A outbreak in Kerala’s Malappuram district have raised concerns, with about 8,000 cases and 12 deaths.

Hepatitis A is caused by a virus and is highly contagious, often spreading through contaminated food and water.
While the infection is largely self-limiting with short-term liver inflammation, it can lead to severe symptoms in older individuals with lower immunity.
Symptoms include jaundice, nausea, fever, diarrhoea, and stomach ache, with extreme symptoms indicating criticality and potential liver failure.
Treatment is symptomatic with rest, nutrition, and fluids, with severe cases requiring hospital monitoring.
Prevention involves vaccination, good hand hygiene, avoiding contaminated food and water, and boiling water if unsure of its safety.