An outbreak of hepatitis A, a serious liver disease, among travelers to Tulum, Mexico, has prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue an advisory to U.S. visitors to the region.
As of May 1, 2015, a total of 27 cases of hepatitis A were reported in US travelers who went to Tulum, Mexico “in the Mexican Caribbean, according to the CDC.” All people traveled between the dates of February. 15 of 2015 and 20 of March of 2015 «.
“The CDC recommends that travelers to Mexico get vaccinated against hepatitis A and follow all food and water precautions… If you returned from traveling to Tulum, Mexico, in the last 14 days, talk to your doctor about receiving a dose of the hepatitis A vaccine, which can prevent or reduce symptoms of hepatitis A if given within 14 days of exposure.
What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a viral inflammation of the liver that is highly contagious. It is usually spread when people ingest fecal matter in food, drink, objects, or through sexual contact. Even a microscopic amount of fecal matter, often the result of poor hygiene among food handlers, can cause illness.
According to the CDC, a case of hepatitis A can range in severity from a mild illness that lasts a few weeks to a serious illness that lasts for several months. Symptoms, if they occur, usually appear 2-6 weeks after infection and may include:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Gray stools
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
- Jaundice
A simple blood test can tell you if you have been infected with hepatitis A.
How to avoid getting sick
The CDC recommends the hepatitis A vaccine for all children, people with certain risk factors and medical conditions, and travelers to certain international countries “even if travel occurs for short periods or in closed resorts.” The vaccine is given in two doses, six months apart, so plan ahead if you intend to travel anywhere in the undeveloped world.
Although rare in the United States, most new cases of hepatitis A now occur among American travelers who were infected in places where hepatitis A is still common, such as Mexico.
One way that travelers can minimize their risk of contracting hepatitis A is to eat safe foods, such as:
- Food that is cooked and served hot.
- Boiled eggs
- Fruits and vegetables that you have washed in clean water or peeled
- Pasteurized dairy products
On the other hand, don’t eat:
- Food served at room temperature
- Street vendor food
- Raw or cooked eggs (snot)
- Raw or undercooked meat or fish (rare) and other shellfish
- Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables
- Fruit or vegetable peelings.
- Condiments (like sauce) made with fresh ingredients.
- Salads
- Unpasteurized dairy products
- Bushmeat (monkeys, bats or other wild game)
As for drinks, you should drink:
- Bottled water that is sealed (carbonated is safer)
- Water that has been disinfected (boiled, filtered, treated)
- Ice made from bottled or sanitized water.
- Carbonated drinks
- Hot coffee or tea
- Pasteurized milk
Do not drink
- Tap or well water
- Ice made with tap or well water.
- Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice)
- Open market drinks made with fresh fruit pulp (fresh waters)
- Flavored ice and popsicles
- Unpasteurized milk
Travelers should also practice good hygiene and cleanliness, including:
- Wash hands frequently. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Try to avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups.
