Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Small children usually have no or mild symptoms. Older children and adults experience fever, a general feeling of unwell, nausea, loss of appetite and/or abdominal discomfort followed within a few days by jaundice (yellowness of skin and/or eyes). Hepatitis A is spread by consuming contaminated food or water, or close or sexual contact with an infected person. This disease is more common in countries with poor sanitation and overcrowding. For more information, see the Health Unit's fact sheets page on hepatitis A.

The following graph shows the number of hepatitis A cases in Simcoe Muskoka between 2000 and 2010. There are many factors that influence how many cases are reported to the Health Unit, as explained on the Infectious Diseases page. There have been between zero and six hepatitis A cases in Simcoe Muskoka every year since 2000.

Provincial definitions classify cases as confirmed, probable or suspect based on clinical and/or laboratory diagnostic criteria. The provincial case definition for Hepatitis A changed in April 2009 to include a definition for probable cases whereas before there was no such classification. The definitions of confirmed and probable cases from 2009 onwards are comparable to confirmed cases before 2009.

The following graph shows the incidence rate of hepatitis A in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario between 2000 and 2010. The incidence rate in Simcoe Muskoka is slightly lower than the Ontario rate. Both rates have remained low and relatively stable during this time period.