In the past two weeks, five cases have been notified to the Department of Health and Human Services from the Loddon Mallee region alone, adding to the statewide 2018 total of 42 confirmed cases, one further probable case and an additional 22 under early investigation.

A total of two cases were reported in the Loddon Mallee region last year, and none for the two years previous.

Hepatitis A can be spread through sexual contact, sharing contaminated needles, and through the consumption of contaminated food and water.

All 42 Victorian confirmed cases are male, with many being men who have sex with men who have not travelled overseas. An increasing number are in people who inject drugs. 

Health authorities said people at risk could protect themselves with a two-dose vaccination against hepatitis A.

“Immunisation is safe, effective and saves lives. It provides the best protection against serious diseases such as hepatitis A. It also means the wider community is better protected,” said Victoria’s deputy chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton.

Dr Sutton urged all people in high risk groups – men who have sex with men and people who have injected drugs in the past 12 months – to take advantage of a free vaccine that was made available last month to help halt the outbreak.

Since the free vaccine was made available, many people at risk have taken advantage of it in metropolitan areas, but there has been little take-up in rural areas.

“This death highlights just how important it is for all eligible people to get the free hepatitis A vaccine,” Dr Sutton said.

The free vaccination program will run until December 31.

“We’re beginning to see spread of the infection more widely” Dr Sutton said.

Dr Sutton also urged anyone travelling to countries with high rates of hepatitis A to get vaccinated before they go on holidays, not only to protect them while they are away but to reduce the risk of bringing hepatitis A back to Australia.

Hepatitis A symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, followed by dark urine and yellow skin/eyes (also known as jaundice). It can take 15 to 50 days to develop symptoms after contact with hepatitis A. It can result in liver failure and death, with the risk of death increasing with age.