A large-scale outbreak of viral hepatitis A has been recorded in the Kyiv Otradny neighborhood. As of the morning of May 16, 65 people have already fallen ill, including 31 children. All students in the district's schools have been transferred to distance learning. The source of the infection has not yet been identified.
This was announced by Natalia Gunchenko, Deputy Director General of the Kyiv City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, during a briefing.
According to Gunchenko, the Vidradnyi neighborhood in Solomyanskyi district was the epicenter of the outbreak. The disease has affected both children and adults, but young people are the main risk group. Older people usually already have immunity, as they have had hepatitis A before.
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A - the only effective method of prevention remains vaccination. At the same time, vaccination against hepatitis A is not included in the list of mandatory ones and is carried out exclusively at your own expense.
As of May 10, 330 people, mostly children, have already been vaccinated. The cost of the vaccine for adults is UAH 1,080, for children - UAH 820. Revaccination is recommended after 6 months, but is possible within 5 years.
Experts have not yet identified the source of the infection. Given the long incubation period of the virus — up to 50 days — the study covers the events of the last two months. As part of the investigation, samples are being taken from pump rooms, reservoirs, and the centralized water supply network. Schoolchildren and teenagers are also being tested en masse.
"We discover something new every day. It's about retrospective study - to find out what happened two months ago," explained Natalia Hunchenko.
All students in schools in the Otradny district have been transferred to distance learning. This step was taken to reduce the risk of infection transmission during direct contact.
Doctors note that the situation, although alarming, is not unique. Hepatitis A is cyclical: periods of increased incidence usually repeat every 7–8 years.
"Last year, 2-3 cases were recorded. The current outbreak is another cycle. Hepatitis A always exists, it's just that sometimes people forget about it," Hunchenko noted.
The investigation is ongoing. Doctors are urging parents to be attentive to their children's symptoms, practice good hygiene, avoid drinking raw water, and get vaccinated if possible.
