Hepatitis Health Alert Issued

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services put out a warning Wednesday that hepatitis A is on the rise and has become a major public health concern for Los Angeles.

According to the Department of Health Services Director Jonathan E. Fielding, since August there has been an incremental rise in the number of reported hepatitis A cases.

In addition, those reported cases have increased substantially in 2005 over 2004, and while many cases have originated among the homeless community, the health department is saying that the general increase throughout the county is cause for concern.

This form of hepatitis is spread by the fecal-oral route, the department said. The virus can be transmitted by touching anything contaminated with the blood, stool, saliva and possibly other body fluids of an infected person.

Typical symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, muscle aches, or changes in the color of urine or feces. Symptoms generally appear 2-6 weeks after infection and recovery typically takes up to two months. The disease rarely has lasting effects or permanent liver damage.

“We encourage you to report these cases as soon as possible to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (888-397-3993) so that we may investigate the origins of the increase in hepatitis A,” the department said in a statement.

To confirm a case of acute hepatitis A, a patient must have a serological test positive for hepatitis A IgM (total hepatitis IG does not identify acute cases of hepatitis A) and must have either jaundice or elevated liver enzymes.

All healthcare providers are required to report cases of acute hepatitis A to the local health department within one working day.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Nebraska Legislature Passes Republican's Age Verification Bill With No Votes Against It

Nebraska’s unicameral legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still have antitrust claims that they may pursue in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have filed a petition before the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit asking to stay its recent upholding the law because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Chaturbate, xHamster Over Controversial Age Verification Law

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits on Tuesday against the parent companies of Chaturbate and xHamster, claiming that the sites are not complying with the state’s controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

GirlsDoPorn's Michael Pratt Extradited From Spain, Pleads 'Not Guilty'

Former GirlsDoPorn owner Michael Pratt made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday following his extradition from Spain Monday night, according to a statement released by the Department of Justice.

Missouri Republican Behind FOSTA-SESTA Renews Attack on OnlyFans

Rep. Ann Wagner, the Missouri Republican legislator who was the original architect of FOSTA-SESTA, has renewed her call for federal action against OnlyFans.

Idaho Legislature Passes Republican Age Verification Bill With Full Democratic Support

The Idaho legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Show More