The Arkansas Department of Health has identified a case of hepatitis A in Washington County that is linked to the current outbreak in Arkansas, according to Meg Mirivel, Public Information Director for the department. There have been 335 hep A cases in Arkansas since February 2018.
"The best way to protect against hep A is to get the hep A vaccine," Mirivel wrote in an email. "The hep A vaccine is safe and effective."
Hep A is usually spread when a person ingests tiny amounts of fecal matter from objects, food or drinks contaminated by an infected person.
Mirivel also recommended regularly washing hands, especially when preparing food and after using the restroom.
"Hand sanitizers are not effective against the hepatitis A virus," she wrote.
Typical symptoms of hep A include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.