16 September, 2005
THE Alabama Department of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A. Since the beginning of September, 13 cases have been reported from scattered areas of the state. The investigation is still in progress.
However, it appears that most of these patients may have contracted the disease after eating raw oysters. Of the 11 patients who have been interviewed, 10 have eaten raw oysters in the period two to six weeks before getting sick. Most had eaten the raw oysters about a month before becoming ill. “Even if these cases of hepatitis A were infected by eating raw oysters, this outbreak was not caused by Hurricane Katrina,” said Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer. “All of the persons had eaten the raw oysters before Katrina hit the coast.” In fact, most of the individuals ate the raw oysters about two weeks before Katrina.
Preliminary information indicates that the 13 cases are scattered throughout the state. At least five eating establishments may have been the source of contaminated oysters. Traceback activities will attempt to determine where the oysters were harvested. Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver. It causes an illness that results in the patient turning yellow (jaundiced) because the liver is not working well. Other symptoms include fever, lack of energy and lack of appetite. Illness can last several weeks, but virtually every patient recovers.