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The number of patients with hepatitis A, a viral liver disease, is increasing sharply across the nation with the health authorities still having little idea of the possible cause of the abrupt epidemic. Government data testifies to the seriousness of the situation. A total of 3,597 confirmed cases were reported during the first four months of the year, nearly tripling the number for the same period of last year, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Adding salt to injury, a whopping 85 percent of the patients were in their 30s (37 percent), 40s (35 percent) and 20s (13 percent) who are supposed to be most active in their social life, causing substantial economic losses. In particular, considering the latest development, the number of patients is feared to top the 4,679 infections of 2017, the most in recent years. The disease can lead to significant economic and social consequences for it can take weeks or months for patients recovering from the illness to return to work, school or daily life.
According to a report by the World Health Organization, the hepatitis A virus is spread primarily when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests contaminated food or water, and the disease is closely associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation and poor personal hygiene.
Nonetheless, there are still many who pass their drinking cups (without cleaning them) to others and do not wash their hands after going to the toilet. Even some chefs at restaurants reportedly do not use sanitary gloves while cooking. There is no effective medicine for hepatitis A yet. Thorough personal sanitation, a safe water supply, food safety, hand washing and vaccines appear to be the most effective ways to combat the disease at present.
Government policy should be focused on improving public hygiene and encouraging people to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of hepatitis A.
