Uncovering the Hepatitis Outbreak: School Closures and Hospitalizations Surge in Vinnytsia, Ukraine

An aerial view shows buildings damaged by a Russian missile strike in Vinnytsia, Ukraine July 15, 2022. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing Rights

Starting Monday, schools in Vinnytsia, Ukraine’s central city, will shift to online classes due to a Hepatitis A outbreak that has resulted in numerous hospitalizations, according to the country’s chief sanitary official.

On Saturday, Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine, Ihor Kuzin, wrote on Facebook, “The main thing now is to establish the centre of the outbreak and the causes in order to stop the spread of the viral Hepatitis A among the population as soon as possible.”

Currently, there are 141 individuals hospitalized in Vinnytsia and the surrounding region. Vinnytsia, which had a population of approximately 370,000 prior to the war, serves as the administrative center of the Vinnytsia region in central Ukraine.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection that can be transmitted through close personal contact or consuming contaminated food and drink, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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