LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is recommending that everyone in the county get a hepatitis A vaccination.
Lexington has 12 cases related to the statewide outbreak, which is up to more than 1,620 across Kentucky with 86 counties affected.
Initially, the department warned “at-risk” individuals to get vaccinated. They have since expanded that recommendation upon the disease spreading.
Hepatitis A is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. This type of transmission is called the “fecal-oral” route.
Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A include :
- flu-like symptoms (fever, fatigue, body aches)
- abdominal pain (especially in the right upper quadrant)
- light-colored stool
- dark urine
- loss of appetite
- unexplained weight loss
- jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)