The probable cause of the hepatitis A outbreak in Vinnytsia and the region is drinking water. This was stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine by Deputy Health Minister and Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin.
"Usually, this number (of patients) indicates that it is likely that drinking water could be the cause. Epidemiologists can name food as the second cause. Most of the people who fell ill said that they used the local market: they bought vegetables, fruits, and milk products there. We have several cases of the disease in the workplace, including confectioneries and a dairy plant. Therefore, all scenarios are being worked out in parallel, and we have already moved from testing environmental objects to testing people," he said.
According to Kuzin, it is difficult to say why Vinnytsia region became the center of the disease. Cases of hepatitis A were also reported in Kharkiv, Zakarpattia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. But there is no talk of an epidemic.
He also reminded that vaccination against hepatitis A is not included in the preventive vaccination schedule, but it creates lifelong immunity.
"Thus, most Ukrainians who have not had Botkin's disease or viral hepatitis A have no immunity. That is why this virus often causes such massive and rapid outbreaks. The outbreak in Vinnytsia is one of them," noted the sanitary doctor.
Viral hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease that is transmitted by household contact, usually by fecal-oral route, it is a disease of "unwashed hands".
