Summary:
Hepatitis A outbreak confirmed in Baixo Alentejo with six cases reported.
Community vaccination campaign held from October 22 to 25 for 153 children.
First case recorded on September 18, with no recent linked cases since then.
Outbreak origin traced back to the Algarve, with local transmission through close contact.
Low risk of transmission in schools due to good hygiene practices.
The Public Health Unit (USP) of Baixo Alentejo has announced an ongoing Hepatitis A outbreak, originating from the Algarve, with six confirmed cases in the Bairro das Pedreiras area of Beja. To combat the spread of the virus, a community vaccination campaign was conducted from October 22 to 25.
A total of 153 children aged up to 18 years were vaccinated as part of this initiative. The vaccination targeted the affected population and included awareness activities to promote preventive measures against the disease's transmission.
According to the USP, the first case of Hepatitis A in Baixo Alentejo was recorded on September 18, with the latest symptom onset related to the outbreak occurring over a month ago. The USP stated, "Since then, no additional cases have been linked to the outbreak in the region," although there may be cases arising without an epidemiological link to the current outbreak.
The USP also conducted epidemiological surveys and an environmental study confirming that the outbreak's origin is in the Algarve, with only close contact transmission occurring in Baixo Alentejo. Furthermore, they emphasized that the fecal-oral transmission of the virus is low in school settings due to good hygienic conditions in schools.
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