(10:20) Santa Cruz County – The Santa Cruz Health Services Agency has an issued a public health alert for Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz County is experiencing an increase in new Hepatitis A infection cases. In the last 7 weeks the county has received 9 confirmed cases. Hepatitis A is a highly infectious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus which multiplies in the liver and is shed in the feces. Symptoms of concern include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, fever, dark urine, light-colored stool, and abdominal pain. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable illness that can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months and even death. For more information visit: santacruzhealth.org.
