THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS REPORTING A SECOND DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH HEPATITIS “A”. DEPUTY STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DOCTOR CHAD SMELZER SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN 103 CONFIRMED CASES IN BERNALILLO COUNTY SINCE THE END OF LAST OCTOBER. HE SAYS THIS QUALIFIES AS AN “OUTBREAK.” HE SAYS WE GENERALLY DON’T HAVE VERY MANY HEPATITIS -A CASES IN NEW MEXICO IN ONE YEAR AT ALL, SO HAVING MORE THAN 100 CASES IN A COUNTY IS SIGNIFICANT.
THERE HAS ALSO BEEN ONE CONFIRMED CASE IN SANTA FE COUNTY. BOTH DEATHS FROM HEPATITIS “A” WERE IN BERNALILLO COUNTY.
HEPATITIS “A” IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH POOR HYGIENE OR INJECTION DRUG USE.
