Tamworth warned of Hep A risk

The source of a Hepatitis A outbreak in Tamworth remains unknown as the city welcome tens of thousands of visitors for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, prompting health authorities to urge heightened vigilance around hygiene and symptoms.

Hunter New England Local Health District has confirmed six cases of hepatitis A in the Tamworth area since November last year. Three of those cases occurred within a single household, while the source of infection for the remaining cases has not yet been identified.

With the Tamworth Country Music Festival set to run from 16 to 25 January, public health officials say the timing of the cases is of particular concern given the expected influx of visitors and the pressures that large events place on accommodation and food services.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable infection of the liver. While illness is often mild or without symptoms in young children, it can be far more serious in adults, with complications ranging from prolonged illness to liver failure and, in rare cases, death.

Public Health Physician Dr David Durrheim said it was important for the Tamworth community, local businesses and festival goers to be aware of hepatitis A and how it spreads.

“With thousands of visitors expected very soon, we’re asking residents, businesses and festival goers to practise excellent hand hygiene and food safety, and seek medical advice if they develop symptoms,” Dr Durrheim said.

“Hepatitis A is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or through direct contact with an infected person. Crowded accommodation and busy food service can increase risk of transmission.”

Dr Durrheim said vaccination was the best protection against hepatitis A and encouraged people at higher risk to consider being immunised. This includes people with chronic liver disease and those working in higher risk settings such as childcare, disability care, plumbing or sewerage, health care and food handling.

The district is also reminding the community that alcohol-based hand sanitiser is less effective against hepatitis A. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water for at least 10 seconds and dried well, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food. People experiencing diarrhoea or symptoms consistent with hepatitis A should not prepare food for others.

“If you’re a contact of a confirmed case, public health will work with you directly and may arrange post exposure prophylaxis vaccine or immunoglobulin to be provided to you within 14 days, to help prevent illness,” Dr Durrheim said.

While some of the confirmed cases attended childcare centres, health authorities say there is no evidence at this stage that transmission occurred within those settings. Childcare centres have been advised to maintain strict hand hygiene and environmental cleaning and to report any potential cases to public health.

Symptoms of hepatitis A can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools and jaundice. Symptoms typically appear between two and seven weeks after exposure.

Residents and visitors who develop symptoms are advised to avoid preparing food for others and to see their GP or contact Healthdirect. Many GPs and community pharmacies across NSW can provide hepatitis A vaccination, with pharmacists able to administer privately funded vaccines to people aged five years and over.

More information about Hepatitis A and what to do is available from a NSW Health factsheet.