Currently, there is a Las Vegas Hepatitis A outbreak happening in Clark County. Right now, there are 37 cases this month alone, but there are 83 cases this year so far. Government officials are scrambling to figure out what is causing the increase of cases across the city.
About Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is one of several types of hepatitis viruses that cause inflammation and affect your liver’s ability to function. Hepatitis A also spreads through contaminated food, water or from close contact with an infected person or object. However, signs of infection do not appear for several weeks. These include fatigue, sudden nausea, abdominal pain, clay-colored bowel movements, loss of appetite, fever, dark urine, joint pain and yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Las Vegas Hepatitis A Outbreak Reaches Nearly 100
This Las Vegas Hepatitis A outbreak isn’t common for the area. Most cases barely rose above 10 for the past few years. Yet, now the numbers keep rising. About 92% of the patients in the report used drugs and 65% were homeless. However, there are other risk factors for infection. These include men having sex with men, chronic liver disease, out-of-the-country travel, direct contact, clotting factors, and recent incarcerations.
Symptoms include jaundice, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and also light-colored stools. Hepatitis A vaccination is the best prevention against the virus. Therefore, Clark County has vaccinated almost 2,000 adults this year. The CDC recommends good hygiene practices like thoroughly washing hands after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food.
File a Claim
Lawsuits play an important role in keeping food systems safe. These lawsuits hold negligent corporations accountable. Plus, it shows lawmakers that food safety is imperative. When contaminated food injures people from outbreaks caused by bacteria or viruses, most of the time it is manufacturer negligence. The company is fully aware of its potentially dangerous practices and do not correct it. Thus, customers’ lives are endangered.