Michigan Renaissance Festival-goers encouraged to get hepatitis A vaccine

9/14/2018

A registered nurse administers a hepatitis A vaccination.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Those who attended the Michigan Renaissance Festival are urged to get vaccinated for hepatitis after one visitor tested positive for the disease.

According to a release issued by the Lenawee County Health Department, those who attended the Holly, Mich., event from Sept. 1-3 are encouraged to be vaccinated by Monday to fall within a two-week exposure window of when symptoms can develop. 

Lenawee County residents seeking vaccination information should contact the county health department at 517-264-5223. Others can call the state’s Department of Health and Human Services at 517-335-8165 or visit michigan.gov/hepaoutbreak. 

Hepatitis A is a liver disease that can be spread by ingesting food or water contaminated by feces or through sexual contact. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, dark urine, pale stool, and joint pain.

The initial advisory came from the health department in Michigan’s Oakland County, where the festival took place. 

Southeast Michigan is experiencing a months-long hepatitis A outbreak that has sickened 886 and contributed to 28 deaths. Ohio recently declared a statewide outbreak as well.

To reduce risk of spreading the disease, health officials recommend frequent hand-washing, cleaning and disinfecting household surfaces, and avoiding food preparation by those with symptoms.