With six cases of hepatitis A reported in the Snoqualmie Valley in the last three months—nearly as many as reported in the entire county in 2010—King County’s Public Health department warns Valley residents to mind their hygiene and vaccines.

“It is unusual to have so many cases in a short time in a community,” said Tao Kwan-Gett, a physician with the communicable disease section of Public Health-Seattle and King County.

“There is a risk that it could spread. It’s something to be aware of—a good reminder of how important it is to get vaccinated.”

Hepatitis is a virus that infects the liver, causes fever, fatigue and pain, and jaundice, and in some rare cases, severe or fatal liver damage. It is easily spread from person to person by close contact or contaminated food. Doctors must report cases of hepatitis A to the county. All six cases in the Valley are adults.

The county logged 97 cases of hepatitis A in 2000. By 2009, that number had dwindled to 17 cases. In 2010, there were seven.

Hepatitis A has a wide range of symptoms.

“Some people might not have any symptoms,” Kwan-Gett said. Most healthy adults get better on their own. Severe cases don’t happen that often, “but it’s something that we want to prevent if at all possible,” he said.

The best defense against hepatitis A is vaccination, which is routinely recommended for all children ages 1 to 18.

Washing hands with warm water and soap is another important way to protect against the disease.

Hepatitis A is a routine childhood vaccination; people who get two vaccinations at least six months apart become immune. But adults who grew up before vaccinations became routine may be at risk. Other risk groups include people who routinely travel outside the United States.

People who have had the disease typically become immune to it.

Learn more about hepatits A prevention at www.kingcounty.gov/health/cd