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Hepatitis in Sanitation (Part 1)
By Devi Mc Donald
Disasters such as the New Orleans tragedy have sparked
questions regarding the safety of the people exposed to
viruses found in such unsanitary conditions. In upcoming
issues of the Sanitation Journal, we are on a mission to
answer the following questions: Is hepatitis A a real issue in
the liquid waste industry? Are workers in the liquid waste
industry at risk of catching hepatitis A? Should there be
measures taken to ensure their protection from hepatitis A?
We will be researching, exploring and talking to the people
who have all the answers regarding this potentially
hazardous virus to give you the answers you deserve. In
this issue, our main goal is to introduce you to hepatitis A;
to give you a background of it and to give you an idea of
how it relates to the liquid waste industry.
What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A, or HAV is the most commonly reported type of
hepatitis, and also one of the most commonly reported
diseases in America. You are most likely being exposed to
hepatitis A throughout your daily life without even knowing
it. Contracting HAV is easier than most people would think.
It could take as little as a handshake from an unwashed
hand to keep you from your job, your family and your life
for weeks or even months. So, by just being informed on
HAV, you could end up saving yourself tremendous
amounts of trouble, not to mention countless weeks of
misery.
questions regarding the safety of the people exposed to
viruses found in such unsanitary conditions. In upcoming
issues of the Sanitation Journal, we are on a mission to
answer the following questions: Is hepatitis A a real issue in
the liquid waste industry? Are workers in the liquid waste
industry at risk of catching hepatitis A? Should there be
measures taken to ensure their protection from hepatitis A?
We will be researching, exploring and talking to the people
who have all the answers regarding this potentially
hazardous virus to give you the answers you deserve. In
this issue, our main goal is to introduce you to hepatitis A;
to give you a background of it and to give you an idea of
how it relates to the liquid waste industry.
What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A, or HAV is the most commonly reported type of
hepatitis, and also one of the most commonly reported
diseases in America. You are most likely being exposed to
hepatitis A throughout your daily life without even knowing
it. Contracting HAV is easier than most people would think.
It could take as little as a handshake from an unwashed
hand to keep you from your job, your family and your life
for weeks or even months. So, by just being informed on
HAV, you could end up saving yourself tremendous
amounts of trouble, not to mention countless weeks of
misery.
The HAV causes inflammation of one of the major organs of the body: the liver. The liver performs hundreds of
functions, from processing the nutrients of the body. to removing and restoring red blood cells in the body. The
liver can also be seen as a filter for the body. A filter which protects you from toxic substances, such as alcohol or
even your own harmful bodily fluids, and keeps them from doing any potential damage to your body. So, it goes
without saying, that any harm to your liver will profoundly affect your body and it’s routine functions.
Someone infected with this virus will become ill within one month of exposure and can experience all symptoms
from fever, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice to diarrhea; keeping them bed-ridden for anywhere from a few
weeks, to a few months. Typically, hepatitis only causes minor liver damage, but could on some occasions, cause
severe liver damage.
How can you catch hepatitis A?
Poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions are the main causes of HAV. Any type of oral contact with fecal matter
from a contaminated host causes the virus to infect its new, potential host. If someone who happens to be carrying
HAV does not wash their hands after going to the bathroom, they are putting everyone around them at risk of
catching the virus. According to statistics, around one in three people do not wash their hands after using the
restroom. Now, pair that with the 150,000 to 200,000 people who become infected with the virus each year, and
you are basically a walking target. Think about the workers in the sewage industry who are in close contact with
liquid waste, being exposed to potentially hazardous material all day long.
Who is at risk of catching hepatitis A?
Everyone is at risk of exposure to hepatitis A when you look at one of the main
sources of contracting the virus: through food preparation. There have been numerous cases in the past where
people prepare and handle food without washing their hands and have managed to spread the virus to hundreds of
people, resulting in a hepatitis outbreak. One such story occurred in the Mexicali Valley in Mexico, where it was
reported that crops of green onions had been contaminated with fecal matter and infected over 600 of the
customers in a mall restaurant, causing quite a stir. Other people greatly at risk of catching the virus are
international travelers who travel to countries where the conditions are anything but sanitary, exposing themselves
to the virus without ever having been vaccinated. Also, children and daycare employees who are exposed to
possibly infected fecal matter for long periods are in great danger. Drug users, sexually active homosexual males
and people in the health care field are also listed as “At risk,” but where do the sewage workers stand? Most of the
information you read on HAV leaves the sewage workers out of the picture when they are the ones most closely
working with the main source of the virus. The answer seems clear, yet there tends to be a difference of opinion
concerning the sewage worker’s exposure to HAV.
How can you prevent catching hepatitis A?
Although there are no medications or cures for HAV once it has infected your body, for those who have yet to
come in contact with it, there are ways to ensure your safety. The HAV vaccine offers long-term protection and
will keep you safer than any other method. For those who are constantly being exposed to the virus and have yet to
be vaccinated there is an antibody preparation called immune serum globulin. Washing your hands after any contact
with fecal matter, or any unsanitary conditions will help prevent any spreading of the virus from person to person.
Now that we’ve given you a little background on HAV, we can begin our mission and find out whether HAV plays
any risk in the liquid waste industry and if so, what we can do to prevent it. So be sure to keep your eyes open in
the upcoming issues.
functions, from processing the nutrients of the body. to removing and restoring red blood cells in the body. The
liver can also be seen as a filter for the body. A filter which protects you from toxic substances, such as alcohol or
even your own harmful bodily fluids, and keeps them from doing any potential damage to your body. So, it goes
without saying, that any harm to your liver will profoundly affect your body and it’s routine functions.
Someone infected with this virus will become ill within one month of exposure and can experience all symptoms
from fever, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice to diarrhea; keeping them bed-ridden for anywhere from a few
weeks, to a few months. Typically, hepatitis only causes minor liver damage, but could on some occasions, cause
severe liver damage.
How can you catch hepatitis A?
Poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions are the main causes of HAV. Any type of oral contact with fecal matter
from a contaminated host causes the virus to infect its new, potential host. If someone who happens to be carrying
HAV does not wash their hands after going to the bathroom, they are putting everyone around them at risk of
catching the virus. According to statistics, around one in three people do not wash their hands after using the
restroom. Now, pair that with the 150,000 to 200,000 people who become infected with the virus each year, and
you are basically a walking target. Think about the workers in the sewage industry who are in close contact with
liquid waste, being exposed to potentially hazardous material all day long.
Who is at risk of catching hepatitis A?
Everyone is at risk of exposure to hepatitis A when you look at one of the main
sources of contracting the virus: through food preparation. There have been numerous cases in the past where
people prepare and handle food without washing their hands and have managed to spread the virus to hundreds of
people, resulting in a hepatitis outbreak. One such story occurred in the Mexicali Valley in Mexico, where it was
reported that crops of green onions had been contaminated with fecal matter and infected over 600 of the
customers in a mall restaurant, causing quite a stir. Other people greatly at risk of catching the virus are
international travelers who travel to countries where the conditions are anything but sanitary, exposing themselves
to the virus without ever having been vaccinated. Also, children and daycare employees who are exposed to
possibly infected fecal matter for long periods are in great danger. Drug users, sexually active homosexual males
and people in the health care field are also listed as “At risk,” but where do the sewage workers stand? Most of the
information you read on HAV leaves the sewage workers out of the picture when they are the ones most closely
working with the main source of the virus. The answer seems clear, yet there tends to be a difference of opinion
concerning the sewage worker’s exposure to HAV.
How can you prevent catching hepatitis A?
Although there are no medications or cures for HAV once it has infected your body, for those who have yet to
come in contact with it, there are ways to ensure your safety. The HAV vaccine offers long-term protection and
will keep you safer than any other method. For those who are constantly being exposed to the virus and have yet to
be vaccinated there is an antibody preparation called immune serum globulin. Washing your hands after any contact
with fecal matter, or any unsanitary conditions will help prevent any spreading of the virus from person to person.
Now that we’ve given you a little background on HAV, we can begin our mission and find out whether HAV plays
any risk in the liquid waste industry and if so, what we can do to prevent it. So be sure to keep your eyes open in
the upcoming issues.
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Serving the American Liquid Waste Industry Since 2002