HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (WTVF) — An employee at Indian Hills Elementary School in Christian County, Kentucky was diagnosed with hepatitis A. Officials said the employee handled food at the school, but say the risk of school students or patrons becoming infected is very low.
The case was diagnosed Wednesday by the Christian County Health Department. Health Dept. officials are working with the school and say new cases are unlikely to happen.
Indian Hills Elementary administration has notified all parents and staff of the situation.
Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. The virus spreads when an infected person does not wash his/her hands adequately after using the toilet or engages in behaviors that increase risk of infection.
CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for the following groups:
- All children at age 1 year
- Travelers to countries that have high rates of hepatitis A
- Family members and caregivers of recent adoptees from countries where hepatitis A is common
- Men who have sexual contact with other men
- People who use injection and non-injection illegal drugs
- People with chronic (lifelong) liver diseases, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C
- People who are treated with clotting-factor concentrates
- People who work with hepatitis A infected animals or in a hepatitis A research laboratory
