Hepititus A cases on rise in NE GA

GAINESVILLE - Cases of hepatitis A in northeast Georgia have increased over the past year, and health officials are NOT sure why. <br> <br> An epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Public Heath, Julie Wolthuis, said about 100 cases of hepatitis A were reported from January through July of this year in the 13-county health district that includes Hall County. <br> <br> She says that compares to 20 cases during the same period last year. She says most of the reported cases have been in adults. <br> <br> Outbreaks of hepatitis A are often tied to day-care centers, prisons or restaurants, but Wolthuis said this year&#39;s cases have occurred randomly throughout the district. <br> <br> Hepatitis A is the most common of the viruses that cause liver inflammation. It infects about 23,000 Americans each year.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/8/174154