A Hepatitis A outbreak has been detected in a childcare center in Gran Canaria, affecting a total of six minors. The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands has implemented the relevant control and monitoring protocols. The affected children are recovering well, and those who required hospitalization have already been discharged.
The General Directorate of Public Health has initiated the vaccination of close contacts. Álvaro Torres, head of the epidemiological surveillance unit of the Canary Islands Health Service, explained on the program ‘Herrera en COPE Canarias’ that Hepatitis A, caused by a virus affecting the liver, initially presents with vague symptoms such as fatigue, asthenia, or loss of appetite.
“"The most striking thing is that the child turns yellow."
Torres added that jaundice, which causes the skin and eyes to turn yellowish, along with very dark urine, are clear indicators of the disease. If the illness progresses, these symptoms become evident, whereas in an initial phase it might go unnoticed.
Hepatitis A is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, facilitating its spread in children's environments due to young children's difficulty in maintaining basic hygiene. The incubation period can extend up to 50 days, complicating contact tracing. Protocols are activated for any outbreak, regardless of severity, as it is a notifiable disease.
Although a vaccine exists, it is not included in the childhood vaccination schedule. The Minister of Health, Esther Monzón, confirmed that the outbreak is under control and epidemiological surveillance. Vaccination is being administered to close contacts, including caregivers and family members of those affected, as a preventive measure.
