Hepatitis & Norovirus in the news

PAKISTAN

Of the 712 cases of viral hepatitis reported to the system, 53.2% were newly reported HCV infection, 19.8% were acute hepatitis A, 12.2% were acute hepatitis E and 10.8% were newly reported hepatitis B virus infection.

Read more at : Viral hepatitis highly prevalent in Pakistan

USA

Officials say around 150 students were absent from Pittsburgh Montessori on Thursday along with seven faculty members.

More at : Pittsburgh Montessori School Closed Due To Norovirus
More at : School reopens monday

USA

Researchers from Emory University have discovered that norovirus in groundwater can remain infectious for at least 61 days. The research is published in the October Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

More at : Norovirus in Groundwater

USA

Eastern Health is investigating a case of Hepatitis A in a school-aged child attending St. Andrew’s Elementary in St. John’s.

More at : Hepatitis A Case

USA

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) can have fatal consequences for people who already have chronic liver disease, yet widely available vaccines against these viruses are not being used nearly as often as they should, according to a report in the October 2011 issue of Hepatology. In fact, people living with HCV—along with those living with diabetes, another high-risk group—were no more likely to have been vaccinated than members of the general U.S. population.

More at : Vaccination

CANADA

A student of St. John's, N. L, an elementary school, has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. The concerned parents, whose kids are studying in the school, are urging the Health Ministry to conduct a Hepatitis A test for all the students.

More at : Hepatitis A

UGANDA

A Health team sent to Serere District to investigate a reported outbreak of Hepatitis disease has ruled out the deadly strain E of the virus.

More at : Hepatitis E

INDONESIA

The doctor said "I was infected with the virus after consuming unsafe food that I bought around the campus every day,” Reinaldi said. He added that several of his friends also suffered from the same condition.

More at : Hepatitis A linked to contaminated Food
More at : More Adults prone to Hepatitis A

USA

Several challenges associated with presenting hepatitis A risk using maps were identified, including the need to decide whether prior infection or continued susceptibility more aptly indicates risk, whether to display incidence or prevalence, how to distinguish between different levels of risk, how to display changes in risk over time, how to present complex information to target audiences, and how to handle missing or obsolete data.

More at : the health risk of hepatitis A virus infection

PAKISTAN

An exposure of 19% in children and 16% in adults indicates high faecal contamination of drinking water and re-addressing of the issue of use of boiled water on individual level, supply of potable water on the government level and a need to produce a vaccine on international level (JPMA 50:352, 2000).

More at : Exposer Rate of Hepatitis E (IgG) in a Selected Population of Children and Adults in Karachi

USA

In December 2010, 24 players and staff members from 13 National Basketball Association teams were affected with gastroenteritis symptoms. Four of 5 stool specimens from ill players and staff tested positive for norovirus genogroup II. We document evidence of transmission both within teams and, potentially, between teams in 2 instances.

More at : NBA players not immune to serious illness from norovirus
More at : Transmission of Norovirus Among NBA Players and Staff, Winter 2010–2011