Hepatitis A

Report to health unit immediately. (tel: 705-267-1181 or fax: 705-360-7324) 

Incubation period:

15-50 days 

Signs and symptoms:

Onset is usually sudden with loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever and stomach ache. Tea coloured urine, light coloured stools and jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin) may appear. Symptoms are generally absent or much milder in children than in adults.

How it is spread:

Virus is excreted in stool or infected persons. Spread person to person; it may also be spread in contaminated food or water.

Contagious period:

From 2 weeks before until 1 week after the onset of jaundice. 

Note: Many have no symptoms but are capable of passing the virus on to others. 

Exclusion guidelines:

Excluded until 1 week after illness started.

What can be done:

Clean and disinfect soiled articles and surfaces. 

Thorough and frequent hand washing by staff and children. 

Vaccine available.