Health officials warn of hepatitis A spike in Boise region

Public health officials say there is a spike of Hepatitis A cases in the Boise region, with six cases reported among Ada and Elmore county residents since Jan. 1.

Normally, the area sees just one or two cases a year.

The Idaho Statesman reports the Central District Health Department sent a bulletin to health care providers in the region Tuesday, warning that the infections are being spread locally. All of the six patients so far are men between the ages of 30 and 60.

Hepatitis A causes inflammation of the liver and is typically spread person-to-person through fecal-oral transmission. It can spread through food that has been handled by someone with Hepatitis A, or contact with someone infected with the illness.

Symptoms include nausea, lack of appetite, fever and abdominal pain. It can also cause jaundice, which is yellow-tinged skin and eyes.

Hepatitis A can be prevented by a vaccine.