ALERT: HSE confirm they are investigating cases of Hepatitis A in Mayo

The HSE have confirmed that they are investigating cases of Hepatitis A in Mayo and are following up on potential cases.

In a statement to The Mayo News, the HSE stated that the Department of Public Health is investigating cases of Hepatitis A in County Mayo and is following up as appropriate.

The HSE would not comment on where in the county the cases have been identified but The Mayo News understands that some cases have been identified in Achill.

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“The HSE cannot comment on individual cases when to do so might reveal information in relation to identifiable individuals, breaching the ethical requirement on us to observe our duty of confidentiality,” the statement from the HSE press office read.

It is understood that the Department of Public Health were recently notified of a case of Hepatitis A in Achill and have been contacting members of the public who may be considered to be close contacts with the infected person. 

People who have been identified as close contacts have also been advised to avail of the Hepatitis A vaccine from their GP.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver and symptoms can include fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and jaundice.

The number of cases of Hepatitis A is rare in Ireland and young children with Hepatitis A often have mild or no symptoms at all but can pass the infection to others. Hepatitis A can result in severe illness in older persons and is primarily spread from person to person by the faecal-oral route (that is, ingestion of something that has been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person). Hepatitis A illness usually resolves on its own.

The HSE stated that if you, your child, or a member of your family develops jaundice (yellowish tinge to the whites of the eyes and/or yellowing of the skin) or other symptoms of Hepatitis A to please contact your GP for advice and further investigation.

Good hand hygiene before and after food preparation and food consumption, after toilet use and after helping a child with toileting, may reduce the risk of transmission of Hepatitis A. It is recommended not to share toilets or food with anyone who may be infected with hepatitis as a method to reduce the spread of disease.

For more information about Hepatitis A see: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/hepatitis/hepatitisa/factsheets.