An 8-year-old refugee boy was diagnosed to have been infected with Hepatitis A virus. The child was staying outdoors at the port of Piraeus. The boy was transferred to a Children’s Hospital in Athens on Sunday. Together with his family, the child was staying at the premises of the port of Piraeus exposed to cold weather and questionable hygiene conditions.
On Friday, a 9-year-old refugee girl was diagnosed to have been infected with the Hepatitis A virus. The girl was staying in Idomeni camp.
Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease of the liver, the virus causes mild to severe illness.
The Hepatitis A virus is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infectious person and is associated with lack of safe water, poor sanitation and overcrowding.
- According to World Health Organisation, almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A, but very small proportions die from fulminant hepatitis.
The families of both children have undergone tests for doctors to see if they have been infected as well.
Media report of plans to vaccinate children against Hepatitis A, but these reports have not been officially confirmed.
Doctors of Non-governmental organizations operating in Idomeni camp have repeatedly warned that the miserable living conditions there could turn into a “health bomb.”
