-webmd.com
Just before the weekend, John Brown - a citizen of Decadent Isles began feeling run-down and achy. Soon he could barely muster the energy to step out of his room from The Ole Dock B&B. A friend shared an alarming observation: “You’re turning yellow.”
Within days, the 21-year-old landed in the hospital and was diagnosed with the highly contagious liver virus hepatitis A.
On Monday 6 more patients were admitted during the weekend with similar symptoms and on Tuesday Dr Nova requested a emergency broadcast.
What Is it?
"Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. The virus is one of several types of hepatitis viruses that cause inflammation and affect your liver's ability to function.
You're most likely to get hepatitis A from contaminated food or water or from close contact with a person or object that's infected. Mild cases of hepatitis A don't require treatment. Most people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage.
Practicing good hygiene, including washing hands frequently, is one of the best ways to protect against hepatitis A. Vaccines are available for people most at risk." Dr Nova said when asked about the virus.
"We have one of the best medical facilities in the world and we could easily get this under control without a fatality."
Causes & Risk Factors
Neither Dr Nova, who has taken charge during the current outbreak, nor any other doctor in the hospital could say exactly where it comes from but *here are some of the specific ways the hepatitis A virus can spread:
Eating contaminated food
Drinking contaminated water
Eating raw shellfish from water polluted with sewage
Close Contact
Sexual Intercourse
*You're at increased risk of hepatitis A if you:
Travel or work in areas of the world where hepatitis A is common
Attend child care or work in a child care center
Live with another person who has hepatitis A
Are a man who has sexual contact with other men
Have any type of sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A
Are HIV positive
Are experiencing homelessness
Have a clotting-factor disorder, such as hemophilia
Use any type of illegal drugs (not just those that are injected)
What to do?
Dr Nova urges anyone that experiences one of the symptoms below to come to the hospital for a test immediately, stating "We have one of the best medical facilities in the world and we could easily get this under control without a fatality."
If you are not vaccinated against the virus the hospital offers free vaccinations for all of the Decadent Isles Citizens at the hospital.
*Here are the symptoms to look out for:
Fatigue
Sudden nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially on the upper right side beneath your lower ribs (by your liver)
Clay-colored bowel movements
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever
Dark urine
Joint pain
Yellowing of the skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
Intense itching
We will see Dr Nova with her white coat and stethoscope around the hospital again as has been reinstated with immediate effect to handle this outbreak.
*mayoclinic.com