Royal Oak Schools Reveal Student Has Hepatitis A

ROYAL OAK, MI — A Royal Oak High School student has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to school officials. ROHS Principal Michael Giromini sent a letter home to families on Wednesday, confirming the viral liver infection in a student.

Parents are advised to watch their children for any symptoms and should be kept home if sick, the letter explained. Symptoms may include sudden abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, tiredness, followed by yellowing of the skin and eyes.

The letter also stresses the importance of vaccines.

"There is a very effective vaccine that will prevent Hepatitis A infection. It is recommended for all children, travelers to some foreign countries, and people who are at risk of complications from Hepatitis A infection," the letter reads. "The hepatitis A vaccine is a two-dose series, given 6 months apart."

There have been 815 confirmed cases of hepatitis A in Michigan since the outbreak in 2016, resulting in 657 hospitalizations and 25 deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The most recent case was confirmed in a Warren Buffalo Wild Wings earlier this month.

For more information on hepatitis A, such as preventative measures, click here.

Image via Shutterstock

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