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Man diagnosed with world's first human case of rat disease hepatitis E.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-diagnosed-first-human-case-of-rat-disease-hepatitis-e/ A 56-year-old man from Hong Kong has developed the world's first human case of rat hepatitis E, Chinese scientists announced Friday. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong discovered the case after testing showed abnormal liver function following a liver transplant. Doctors later found that he had a strain of hepatitis that was "highly divergent" from other strains found in humans, the BBC reports. It's unclear how the man was infected with the virus, but contamination of food by infected rat droppings in the food supply is possible," the researchers said in a report. The patient has been cured of the disease, his doctors said. While rats are known to transmit a number of other diseases to humans, includingplague, Lassa fever and leptospirosis, this is the first reported case in humans of the rat variation of hepatitis E. The human strain of hepatitis E is typically spread through contaminated water or food, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, a microbiologist at Hong Kong University, told reporters at a press conference that the discovery was a "wake-up call" to improve environmental hygiene, according to the South China Morning Post. "We don't know if in future there will be a serious outbreak of the rat hepatitis E virus in Hong Kong," he said. "We need to closely monitor this issue." Dr. Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical assistant professor also in the university's department of microbiology, said controlling the rat population is key. "Infections that jump from animals to humans must be taken very seriously," Sridhar told The New York Times. "For these kinds of rare infections, unusual infections, even one case is enough to make public health authorities and researchers very alert about the implications of the disease. One is all it takes." Symptoms of hepatitis E in humans include fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, abdominal pain, joint pain and dark-colored urine. There is no specific antiviral therapy for the disease and it typically goes away on its own without treatment. Doctors will advise infected patients to rest, get adequate nutrition and fluids, avoid alcohol and check with their physician before taking any medications that can damage the liver. The rat variation of hepatitis E was first discovered in Germany, according to a paper published in 2010. The New York Times reports that it has been found in rats all over the world, including the United States.

22 patients in SGH renal ward infected with hepatitis C; 4 patients have died The Singapore General Hospital compound.PHOTO: ST FILE PUBLISHED 23 MIN AGO UPDATED 8 MIN AGO Lee Min Kok SINGAPORE - The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has apologised for an outbreak of the hepatitis C virus in one of its renal wards, which has led to 22 patients being infected with the virus. Of the 22, four - who were also ill with other serious conditions - have since died. At a media briefing on Tuesday (Oct 6) afternoon, the hospital said it had noted an increased frequency of hepatitis C virus infections in early June in the ward. It prompted SGH to step up urgent checks for the virus in patients with abnormal liver function test results staying in the same ward. Investigations into the cause of the infections are ongoing, but initial investigations have indicated that the source could be attributed to "intravenous (IV) injectable agents". Hepatitis C, which causes liver chronic cancer, is mainly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact associated with IV drug use, poorly sterilised equipment and transfusions. About 0.3 per cent of the general population in Singapore suffer from it. SGH chief executive officer Ang Chong Lye said: "We would like to apologise unreservedly for the grief, pain and anguish this has caused our patients and their families. "Patient safety is non-negotiable. What happens to our patients is always our responsibility. We will spare no effort in reviewing our processes and examining all possible sources of infection to prevent recurrence." Prof Ang added that SGH is in touch with the affected patient and their families, and will "continue to provide full support and the appropriate care in managing their condition". All 22 patients were admitted and stayed in the newly-renovated Ward 67 between April and June this year. Ward 64A, the original renal ward, was under renovation. They were all suffering from some form of renal disease, with the majority having undergone renal transplants. Professor Fong Kok Yong, chairman of the SGH medical board, stressed that while there has been no conclusive evidence to what caused the infections, the hospital had taken "aggressive" steps to rectify any shortcomings detected during the ongoing investigations. The hospital's renal care team, including doctors and nurses, have undergone hepatitis C screening. The screening will also be extended to other doctors who covered the ward during the affected period. Meanwhile, SGH has been contacting patients who were admitted to Wards 64A and 67 from the start of the year to June for screening. No new hepatitis C cases related to admission outside the affected April-June period have been identified.

Recently there was an article in the papers concerning Hepatitis C, and the need to get screened for it, although it is lesser known and not so prevalent as the other two hepatitis types. I have this autoimmune illness for some time already, which in some cases is linked to hep C, although the doctor at the hospital just recommend steroidal meds as and when needed to treat symptoms only - typical western med treatment - and tells me that autoimmune illnesses will come and go, and that's about all they can do. In fact, never even ask me to follow-up. I thought I better check up the hep C link on my own, but noticed that normal health screenings do not check for hep C, so does anyone have a clue where to get just this particular check done inexpensively? Can it be done at private clinic / polyclinic? Recommendations?