AN orchard worker found to have Hepatitis A has been sent home to the Solomon Islands and Hawke's Bay health workers also have a possible case of dengue fever on their hands.
The fruitpicker, who was working at Apollo Pac in Whakatu for the season, was referred to
the Hawke's Bay District Health Board's (DHB's) public health unit with the symptoms of Hepatitis A, including nausea and jaundice. The DHB's medical officer of health Caroline McElnay said 23 people who had been living in close quarters with the person had also been screened for the disease and given an injection of antibodies for temporary protection.
"We don't get that many cases of Hepatitis A, it's not one of those common diseases like campylobacter," Dr McElnay said.
"We have a protocol for following up people who have been in contact with a person with Hepatitis A because it's an infectious disease and we need to prevent further cases."
The Public Unit is also waiting on blood test results for a man suspected of having dengue fever, a disease spread by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Dengue is often found in urban areas of developed tropical nations, including Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, India and Brazil.
The suspected Hawke's Bay case had recently returned from travelling.
The DHB's other medical officer of health, Richard Hoskins, said Hawke's Bay only had about one case of dengue fever every three years.
Because it was rare the results weren't expected back until the end of next week.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
