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Time for plan B for hepatitis A outbreak
Hepatitis A is specifically related to food intake and generally poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions.
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As hepatitis is seen as a highly transmittable infection, patients living with it face social stigma that can lead to discrimination. (Shutterstock/File)
S
udimoro is just a modest subdistrict in the East Java regency of Pacitan with a population only 35,488. But the area is gaining prominence for becoming the epicenter of the outbreak and reemergence of the hepatitis A virus (HAV) recently.
From 24 infection cases initially reported on June 13, the number exploded to 877 within just seven days. As of July 9, or after three weeks, 1,102 people had been infected across Pacitan. Apart from in Sudimoro, three-digit incidence rates have also been seen in Arjosari, Ngadirojo, Tulakan and Tegalombo subdistricts.
This massive spread has exposed significant weak spots and gaps in our public health system, particularly its surveillance, monitoring and prevention of HAV, despite the fact that this disease is not a new kid on the block.
Hepatitis A is specifically related to food intake and generally poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions.
It becomes a disease after a person consumes food or water contaminated by feces from a person infected with HAV.
In fact, several years ago, an alarm rang loudly. Back in 2013, based on a report prepared by the Health Ministry’s Center for Data and Information, there was an HAV outbreak in six provinces and 11 regencies, including Pacitan, with a total of 448 cases. The following year, there was another outbreak, but with a smaller coverage. It only occurred in three provinces and four regencies with a total of 460 cases.
Between 2014 and 2018, no outbreak was reported, thanks in part to the hepatitis immunization program.
