Hepatitis A related death reported in Kanawha County

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department announced Thursday one person has died in connection with the hepatitis A outbreak, the first death in West Virginia.

Health officials identified the man as a 33-year-old Kanawha County resident. They said he died Wednesday.

“The cause of death was related to hepatitis A. There has not been an official cause of death,” health department spokesman John Law said.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include yellowing of the skin and eyes, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, joint pain, dark urine and light-colored bowel movements. People considered at high risk include drug users, the homeless population and men who have sex with other men.

State Chief Health Officer Dr. Rahul Gupta said the man had other health conditions in addition to hepatitis A.

“In this situation, this individual was reported to us and we were working very closely both with the family and the local health department since early April,” he said. “This individual was hospitalized this time because, again, multi-system failure.”

Law said it’s rare to have a death associated with hepatitis A.

“Unlike hepatitis B and hepatitis C, hepatitis A is not chronic,” Law said. “You usually feel bad for a period of time maybe even a period of months but you usually get well.”

Health officials have confirmed 121 cases of hepatitis A across the state, in which 80 percent of the cases are in Kanawha and Putnam counties. Eight of the cases have been of food service employees, but Gupta said they have not found evidence the general public is at risk.

State Chief Health Officer Dr. Rahul Gupta

“The risks to the average person remains very low,” he said.

Gupta also said the man was not a food service employee, adding people should wash their hands before and after handling food to prevent the spread of the disease.

“It’s important for people not to panic, to continue to function as you would normally,” he said. “If you’re going to eat out, go eat out. Just exercise common sense precautions of washing hands before and after you prepare food, before and after you eat, when you’re changing diapers.”

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is working with the state Bureau of Public Health to offer vaccination clinics for food service workers in Kanawha and Putnam counties. The first one is scheduled for Friday at the health department’s office on Lee Street.

A large crowd is expected, Law said.

“In these clinics, which we have done before, the wait could be as much as two hours. So people need to be prepared for that,” Law said.

The vaccine will be provided free if the person is uninsured or underinsured and works in the food industry, or is in the high-risk group, in Kanawha and Putnam counties only. If they have insurance, the insurance will be billed.

“We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to get the vaccine if you’re working in food service establishments in these counties that are higher prevalence at this point for the disease,” Law said.

Gupta said they have received more than 20,000 vaccine doses at a cost of $550,000. The state ordered the vaccines on Friday and received the shipment on Thursday.

“We stand ready to have other orders if need be,” he said.

Friday’s clinic is between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.





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