Communicable Disease
The Natural History and Epidemiology of Hepatitis A
Hepatitis is a contagious and infectious communicable disease primarily caused by a virus commonly referred to as the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The first case of Hepatitis A was first reported in 1979, in which its main reservoir was chimpanzees, human and other primates. Based on the case study, the virus Hepatitis A can survive moderate temperatures and low pH levels. Historians believe that hepatitis A began as a form in which the disease was susceptibly exposed to the human being. The primary mode of transmission was through the face-oral path and few other cases through the blood-borne transmission. However, the leading cause of transmission of hepatitis A is through the Fecal-oral route. As per the case study, the most vulnerable groups of the infectious disease were persons over 50 years of age who had underlying liver ailments. In many parts of the world, hepatitis A occurs in an epidemic form, in which it mainly takes place due to outbreaks resulting from contaminated water and food for consumption. The outbreak can also happen in areas such as hospitals and among the homeless population. As explained, hepatitis can be transmitted through blood-borne transmission and Fecal-oral route; it is also important to note that the disease can arguably be transmitted through the contact of contaminated foods, fluid, or even direct contact with individuals who are infected with the HAV virus this includes close physical contact like the use of oral-anal sex. The common causal agents of the disease are poor sanitation or poor hygiene. According to the World Health Organization, it was revealed that the incubation period of the disease (hepatitis A) occurs between 14-28 days of its exposure. However, after an individual has contacted HAV, it may take around 15 -50 days for the person to become symptomatic on many occasions. Hepatitis A symptoms include vomiting, headaches, febrile, dark urine, jaundice, among others. Many cases of hepatitis A have been reported in children and adults living in low hygienic environments, inability to accessing safe and clean water, sexual partners with persons suffering from severe infections of hepatitis A, persons using recreational or illegal drugs communities such as the remote Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander that have fewer opportunities of accessing clean water and people who have all traveled in areas with high risks of hepatitis A infection are all at a high risk of contracting the disease.
While conducting the initial investigation, being a member of a local public health unit team, I first notified the local council that a public health officer of our group was going to investigate a restaurant in which a case of hepatitis A had been reported to determine the leading causes of the disease and to assess the various symptoms of the disease. Throughout the investigation, we used structured interviewing questions. Information such as the source of drinking water, drainage structure, and the hotel system, public gathering, and events were also conducted for further experimentation. The food officer was also required to notify the investigating public officer to examine the restaurant food system that included food distribution patterns and any other link resulting from overseas outbreaks. For the subsequent investigation, the case study established that detailed and closed tracing was critical for examining the disease. To control the further transmission of the disease, it was revealed that family’s member and all the close related friends and the contact persons such as co-workers in the hotel, the child care center, and the primary school in which his children were studying were required to be involved in an interview to be educated on how to monitor the symptoms of the disease.