JEDDAH: A number of contaminated wells were closed after 39 cases of hepatitis A were discovered in Taif’s Rania district, health officials said yesterday.
“Now everything is under control. We have treated all cases and everyone is in stable condition,” said Saeed Al-Zahrani, official spokesman for the Health Affairs in Taif. “The main source of the illness was contaminated wells, ... These wells are now capped,” he added.
The Health Affairs has taken steps to treat infected patients and vaccinate possible risk groups in the area. “We have also sent a team to give vaccines to students after we received a couple of cases from schools,” Al-Zahrani added.
Details of those affected will be released later today.
The time between infection and the appearance of hepatitis A symptoms is between two and six weeks. The disease can be prevented through vaccinations, which have proved effective in controlling outbreaks worldwide.
