OWSLEY COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Owsley County Board of Education says a school employee there has tested positive for hepatitis A.
Officials said the report of a possible infection was reported over Thanksgiving but took another week to confirm.
The school says the employee had “minimal student contact and thus a very low likelihood of transmission.”
Officials said the school has been cleaned in accordance with recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The school also reminded parents and guardian that state law requires that students be up on their vaccines, including for hepatitis A.
When the outbreak in northern Kentucky was reported in August, the region had about 50 cases. The health department said that as of Nov. 29, there were more than 200 cases.
Hepatitis A is transmitted by oral contact with fecal matter. It attacks the liver and causes symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever and jaundice.
