http://www.abc.net.au/tasmania/news/200306/s874007.htm

Health dept warns of hepatitis-A

Friday, 6 June 2003

The Health Department in Tasmania is advising anyone who may be showing symptoms of hepatitis-A to present themselves to medical authorities.

The call comes after five Tasmanians, who returned from a group visit to the Northern Territory, contracted the disease.

The condition is spread by contaminated food or water or by close personal contact.

Symptoms include general aches and pains, a fever, loss of appetite, and nausea and abdominal discomfort.

The director of public health Dr Roscoe Taylor says it is rare to contract hepatitis-A within Australia.

"It's not usually thought of as necessary with people inside Australia but it's certainly strongly recommended for overseas travellers, because nowadays our commonest source of causes, in a place like Tasmania, is in people who are actually returning from overseas travelling in under-developed countries," he said.

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