According to the Ministry of Health, there has been a rise in hepatitis A cases in Kazakhstan. Since the beginning of 2024, the country has recorded 850 cases of acute viral hepatitis A, which is 1.9 times higher than last year. The virus is transmitted through contaminated water, infected food products, and dirty hands after contact with an infected person.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, with an incubation period ranging from 14 to 35 days. An individual with hepatitis A is contagious to others two weeks before and one week after symptoms appear. Vaccination is recommended for children aged two and individuals in infection hotspots.
Preventive measures include handwashing, avoiding untreated water from open water sources, refraining from washing fruits and vegetables with such water, and avoiding swimming in polluted water bodies.
Additionally, Kazakhstani citizens suspected of cancer, tuberculosis, and diabetes will receive free medical examinations, regardless of their status in the healthcare system, as announced by Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova.
