Seven person, five of whom children, from Tartaul de Salcie and Moscovei villages of Cahul district were taken to the District Hospital with suspected acute viral hepatitis. Doctors said lab tests are now done to confirm or refute the suspicion, IPN reports.

Nicolae Furtuna, vice director for the prevention and control of communicable diseases of the National Public Health Center, said the suspected or confirmed cases of viral hepatitis A are not a reason for concern as their number decreases annually. Before 2000, there were recorded over 10,000 cases a year, but now not even 1,000. Also, the disease does not become chronic as viral hepatitis B. The persons with hepatitis A recover fully after following a special diet during a year. Those who suffered from hepatitis A generally have post-infection immunity for life.

According to Furtuna, the viral hepatitis A, which is also called the disease of dirty hands, is prevented by sanitary-technical measures that include the cleaning of communities, supply of high-quality drinking water, correct maintenance of wells and water pipelines, provision of education institutions with personal hygiene and food products of a high quality. The disease appears mostly at the end of autumn and the start of winter, when the virus spreads best.

Among the symptoms of viral hepatitis A are general fatigue, headache, decreased appetite, nausea, abdominal pain and digestive disorders. People should see a doctor on the first symptoms. Hepatitis A can also be avoided if the personal hygiene rules are strictly respected and only water from safe sources is drunk.