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Hepatitis A outbreak near Unpar linked to contaminated food

Lukito Hadisaputra, 18, has not attended lectures for the past 10 days since his doctor prescribed him to two weeks of bed rest, despite the fact that he has only attended lessons at the Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar) School of Chemical Engineering in Bandung, West Java, for barely three months

Yuli Tri Suwarni and Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post)
Bandung
Fri, October 28, 2011

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Hepatitis A outbreak near Unpar linked to contaminated food

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ukito Hadisaputra, 18, has not attended lectures for the past 10 days since his doctor prescribed him to two weeks of bed rest, despite the fact that he has only attended lessons at the Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar) School of Chemical Engineering in Bandung, West Java, for barely three months.

For the first time in his life, Lukito, who is from Jakarta, was diagnosed with hepatitis A.

“Initially, I had a high fever, was dizzy and weak, and my urine was dark yellow, like tea. Now, my eyes have turned yellow,” Lukito told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He said he never expected to contract hepatitis, which has become a hot topic on campus over the past three months. Two other Unpar students had already been diagnosed with hepatitis A. One was forced to miss the midterm exam because he had to be hospitalized.

A fourth-year architecture student at Unpar, Reinaldi Widjaya, 21, also was bedridden and missed lectures for two weeks after being diagnosed with hepatitis A. He experienced the same symptoms as Lukito for two weeks prior to the midterm exam on Oct. 3.

“The doctor said I was infected with the virus after consuming unsafe food that I bought around the campus every day,” Reinaldi said. He added that several of his friends also suffered from the same condition.

The quick spread of the disease is believed to be linked to unsafe food sold around the campus, which the patients had all consumed.

Unpar Academic and Student Affairs department head Rosmaida Christina confirmed that a number of students had contracted the disease. “Yes, there are some, but not hundreds,” she said.

She added that those who were sick and failed to sit for their exams were allowed to sit for repeat exams. Campus authorities have coordinated handling the infection with the Banding Health Office and Borromeus Hospital.

“We immediately counseled food stall owners around the campus in regards to hygienic food handling, including the cooking process and cleanliness of eating utensils. We will do the same again on Nov. 2,” Rosmaida said.

Hepatitis A attacks the liver and is less severe than types B, C and E.

Bandung Health Office Disease Control and Environmental Health division head Rita Verita said her office had recorded 24 students and residents living around campus who were being treated for the disease.

The Borromeus Unpar Medical Center, Ciumbuleuit community health clinic and Bandung Health Office have responded quickly to the matter and are currently conducting an investigation.

Rita urged students, parents and residents not to be overly alarmed by the incidents, because 99 percent of hepatitis A patients were cured with adequate rest and medication.

Sumarno, who has been selling rice near the Unpar campus for the past 15 years, denied that the hepatitis virus was spread by food vendors.

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