The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is holding a Hepatitis A vaccination clinic on Saturday.
Shots will be given at 1005 Ouellette Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in response to the Oakland County Health Division Public Health Advisory regarding the Hepatitis A exposure at the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly. The health unit strongly recommends that those who attended the festival get a Hepatitis A vaccine. The festival ran Labour Day weekend.
The Hepatitis A vaccine is also available through some health care providers and many pharmacies.
“Vaccination can prevent the disease if given within 14 days after potential exposure,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for the Health Division. “If you have attended the Michigan Renaissance Festival during these dates and have not been vaccinated for hepatitis A or have a sudden onset of any symptoms, contact your doctor.”
Hepatitis A symptoms include sudden abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache, dark urine, and/or vomiting often followed by yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice). Symptoms may appear from 14-50 days after exposure, but average about one month. Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. The virus is shed in feces and is most commonly spread from person to person by unclean hands contaminated with feces.
