SASTM Newsflash
HEPATITIS E -
The United Nations says an outbreak of hepatitis E has killed 111 refugees in camps in
The virus is spread through contaminated food and water.
Communicated by: ProMED-mail
[The hepatitis E death toll has increased from the 88 recorded on 1 Feb 2013 by Medecins sans Frontieres and is likely to increase further in view of the congestion and lack of resources in these camps in
Hepatitis E virus is transmitted mainly through the faecal-oral route due to faecal contamination of drinking water. Other transmission routes include foodborne transmission from ingestion of products derived from infected animals and vertical transmission from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Currently, there is no vaccine available for control of hepatitis E virus infection. Hepatitis E virus infection is self-limiting in normal conditions, and fulminant hepatitis is rare, with only pregnant women being at increased risk. In environments such as the refugee camps in
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