The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population denies reports about outbreak of Hepatitis A in the Sughd province as ‘unfounded.’ There is no outbreak and the situation is under control, says the ministry.
A number of media outlets recently released reports about mass of cases of Hepatitis A in children in the Asht district of the Sughd province.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, citing local authorities, has reported that about hundred children in the Punuk jamoat of the Asht district contracted Hepatitis A. Outbreak of Hepatitis in this district has been reported for the first time. The majority of Hepatitis A infected individuals are children aged 5 to 6.
Citing Ismatullo Abdulloyev, a virologist at the hospital of the Orien jamoat, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports that at least 40 children from the Punuk jamoat have been hospitalized over the past two months on suspicion of having contracted the disease.
According to data from the Sughd regional health directorate, the number of cases of Hepatitis A this year has increased in Konibodom, Mastchoh, Isfara and Jabbor-Rasoulov districts.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population says that information about the increase in the number of Hepatitis A cases in the Sughd province does not correspond to the facts.
“Over the first eight months of this year, 1,388 cases of Hepatitis A have been registered in the Sughd province, which is 281 cases fewer than in same period last year. Over the report period, Hepatitis A cases have been registered in Ayni (5), Devashtich (81), Zafarobod (12), Kuhistoni Mastchoh (8), Mastchoh (1), Spitamen (31), Jabbor-Rasoulov (92), Shahriston (39), Guliston (24), Istaravshan (41), Istiqlol (14), Konibodom (105) and Panjakent (75),” the ministry says, noting that the Hepatitis A situation does not cause concern and is under control.
Hepatitis A is an infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Many cases have few or no symptoms, especially in the young. The time between infection and symptoms, in those who develop them, is between two and six weeks. When symptoms occur, they typically last eight weeks and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fever, and abdominal pain. Around 10–15% of people experience a recurrence of symptoms during the six months after the initial infection. Acute liver failure may rarely occur, with this being more common in the elderly. Hepatitis A is usually spread by eating food or drinking water contaminated with infected feces.
