Canada: Nunavut issues advisory for Hep A outbreak in Chesterfield Inlet

[Shiloh]

Source: https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/artic...or-hepatitis-a-outbreak-in-nunavut-community/

28 January, 2019 ? 4:16 pm EST
Nunavut issues advisory for Hep A outbreak in Chesterfield Inlet
Wash hands often and get vaccinated, says Health Department
By Beth Brown

Nunavut?s Health Department has issued a public health advisory in relation to an outbreak of hepatitis A within the Kivalliq community of Chesterfield Inlet.

That news came in a public service announcement released by the Government of Nunavut on Friday, Jan. 25.

Today, the Health department is working with residents and the Department of Education to curb any further spread, after a few cases were identified in the community of around 440.

While a case of hepatitis A might show up in Nunavut every couple of years, ?It?s unusual to see more than one case,? Nunavut?s chief medical officer Michael Patterson told Nunatsiaq News on Jan. 28...

 

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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/chesterfield-inlet-hepatitis-a-outbreak-continues-1.5028186

Chesterfield Inlet's hep A outbreak continues, with at least 11 cases confirmed
Vaccine could prevent symptoms even after coming in contact with the infection
Sara Frizzell ? CBC News ? Posted: Feb 21, 2019 12:26 PM CT | Last Updated: 9 hours ago

A hepatitis A outbreak in Chesterfield Inlet is not over. In fact, Nunavut's Department of Health now suspects there are as many as 11 cases of the disease in the community.

It has been working to encourage all the people who might have had contact with those infected to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Nunavut's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Mike Patterson, says there have been new cases this week.

"Once you've come in contact with hepatitis A it takes about two weeks for an infection to set in and it takes about a week for the vaccine to be effective. So, the bottom line is that the vaccine is about 95 percent effective in stopping even people who've been in close contact with hepatitis A," Patterson said...