Hepatitis A outbreak in Kerala: 12 deaths so far, 4 districts on alert

The Hepatitis A virus (HAV) affects the liver, and is transmitted through contaminated food and water, or through direct contact with an infectious person.

State Health Minister Veena George has put out an alert for the four districts – Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur and Ernakulam – from where the most number of cases were reported. “Directions have been issued to strengthen grassroots-level action plans in these districts. Water sources in all affected areas will be chlorinated, and restaurants have been told to supply only boiled water. Eateries will be inspected to ascertain whether all employees have mandatory health cards,” she said.

According to state health department data, the number of cases reported until May 13 this year is higher than the number reported in the whole of 2023 (1,073 cases), 2022 (231), 2021 (114), 2020 (464), 2019 (1,620), 2018 (1,369), and 2017 (988).

Public health expert Dr N M Arun said the quality of water in the state has come down significantly in recent years. “HAV mainly spreads through the faeces of infected persons. In many places, leaky water pipelines get exposed to waste pipelines. This becomes glaring during the summer, when water supply becomes erratic,” he said.

According to Arun, a large number of those infected with the virus in Kerala are people who may have got some form of immunity from asymptomatic infections in their childhood. “A large number of people in Kerala, where dependence on catering services for food is widespread, are exposed to contaminated food. Besides, we have a vulnerable population due to pervasive lifestyle diseases and alcoholism,” he said.

One of the worst-affected areas is Vengoor panchayat in Ernakulam, where around 200 people have been infected with HAV since April 17. The panchayat has seen one death and 41 people are currently in hospital, where the condition of four of them is said to be critical.

Panchayat president Shilpa Sudheesh said the health department has found that the outbreak there was caused by contaminated water supplied by the state water authority. “There was no proper chlorination of the water,” she said.

On Tuesday, the panchayat formed a relief committee to mobilise funds to meet the medical bills of those on life support. “Many families have pledged or sold their properties to pay hospital bills. We are asking people to contribute to the relief fund,” Sudheesh said.