There is a hepatitis outbreak on the island of Oahu in Hawaii as I write this, There are 52 confirmed cases as of today. A food worker at Baskin Robbins tested positive for the virus. It is easily transmitted and the people have a right to be concerned. Not only the ones who purchased ice cream and were in contact with her, but others she may have been in proximity to along her daily travels.

The infection is usually spread by drinking or eating contaminated food and water. This virus affects your liver and can spread very quickly, Before you have any symptoms, the disease is contagious and is passed on to others unknowingly. Hepatitis A has a long incubation period lasting anywhere from two weeks to as long as 50 days. Because of this it is very difficult to identify the source of the infection. Hepatitis A has a vaccine that is readily available at local pharmacies and two doses of it given at least six months apart are needed for lasting protection. What is so interesting to me is that Hepatitis A is considered a serious and bad virus and they have a vaccine for it! It doesn't kill you and is not a chronic condition.