Most Canadians think about Hepatitis if they know they’re travelling to a country where the illness is endemic. But a new survey shows, not many Canadians think you can contract it at home. Well, you can. Here’s how, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Here’s the story.
Dominic Antonecci buys fresh produce regularly.
And like most Canadians, he doesn’t think about contracting Hepatitis A – a food born illness – from his food. But it is a possibility, says hepatologist, Doctor Carla Coffin.
“Eating food that may have been contaminated at the point of origin and imported into grocery stores or restaurants in canada, eating food prepared by a food handler or grocery store worker that was contaminated or infected by hepatitis A.”
Though the risk is low, it’s not an illness you want to get.
Doctor Coffin says the symptoms are flu-like and can last a long time.
“Jaundice, fatigue, nausea, about a quarter of people require hospitalization. It can be quite debilitating – it can take several weeks or months for even healthy adults to recover from.”
So even though the risk of contracting hepatitis A from fresh produce in Canada is quite low, Doctor Coffin does recommend we take certain precautions to protect ourselves.
“It’s important to wash your hands before you eat, and after you use the bathroom. It’s important to wash all fresh fruits and vegetables and even packaged fruits and vegetables can be contaminated.”
And if you’re in a high risk group….
“For people who have underlying chronic liver disease, if they’re immuno suppressed, if they’re elderly to think of these risks and how to protect themselves and consider getting vaccinated.”
The vaccine is a series of three shots. It’s over 95 percent effective in protecting you from both Hepatitis A and B. And Doctor Coffin says it’s very safe.
Antonecci says for now, he’s fine just washing his fresh produce.
“You don’t know where they come from, if they fertilize, whatever they put on them. There must be something on it.”
Something that might make you sick.
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For more information on all the types of Hepatitis and more about the risks and vaccine, visit the Canadian Liver Foundation’s website: