Kerala is getting most severe Hepatitis A outbreak in recent years, with government data revealing 1,977 confirmed cases and 12 deaths in the first four-and-a-half months of this year.
The coastal state has reported 5,536 suspected cases and 15 more deaths linked tp the virus. On Wednesday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George directed officials to strengthen the grassroot level action plan to combat the increasing Hepatitis A cases in the state.
She said, ‘Directions have been issued to strengthen grassroots-level action plans in these districts. Water sources in all affected areas will be chlorinated, and restaurants have been told to supply only boiled water. Eateries will be inspected to ascertain whether all employees have mandatory health cards’.
The outbreak has seen a significant increase, particularly in the districts of Malappuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Thrissur. Health Department officials are coordinating closely with district and state-level authorities to implement effective containment measures.
State health department data reveals that the number of Hepatitis A cases reported by May 13 this year has already surpassed the total cases reported in each of the previous seven years: 2023 (1,073 cases), 2022 (231), 2021 (114), 2020 (464), 2019 (1.620), 2018 (1.369), and 2017 (988).
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver that can cause mild to severe illness. The hepatitis A virus (HAV) affects the liver and is transmitted through contaminated food and water, or through direct contact with an infectious person. The virus is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infectious person, as per the World Health Organisation.
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