Gov’t: Hep A Samples Lurking in Ohio River (Ohio’s Cuyahoga River )

Gov’t: Hep A Samples Lurking in Ohio River

by John C. Martin
Article Date: 01-05-05



People who think they may want to venture into Ohio’s Cuyahoga River may be risking their health, the federal government warns in a new report. Though it’s rare that the river, nestled in north-central Ohio between Akron and Cleveland, attracts swimmers, the U.S. Geological Survey issued the warning after discovering samples of hepatitis A in the water in mid-December.

The agency also noted that samples of bacteria, other viruses, and parasites that can trigger diseases were also found in the river sampling. Officials suspect the hepatitis A virus (HAV) may be entering the water through Akron’s sewage system. However, they say that hasn't yet been confirmed.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. Symptoms can range from none at all to a mild illness lasting up to 2 weeks, to a severely disabling disease lasting several months. HAV is shed in the feces of people with HAV infection; and it can be transmitted from direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice or shellfish harvested from contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables or other raw or contaminated food.

http://www.hepatitisneighborhood.com/content/in_the_news/archive_2190.aspx

I thought you meant the actual "Ohio" River!

Hep A would be pretty bad there, with all of the recent flooding.

But that is the title of the article.