NANCHUNG, China, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Hepatitis A has struck a medical college in Nanchung, China, sending some 64 students to the hospital.
The Jiangxi Provincial Health Dept. is investigating the virus outbreak at Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine where even more students could have caught the highly infectious disease since the incubation period is about a month long.
Students who have been in close contact with the patients have been vaccinated with immune globulin for short-term protection from the hepatitis A virus. Medical workers will supervise the complete disinfection of dormitory rooms as well as public areas on the campus.
The China Daily said students at the university's suburban Wanli branch campus said they started noticing a loss of appetite and weakness last Sunday.
Early reports suggest contaminated drinking water was the cause of the outbreak that first appeared on Nov. 23.
Hepatitis A can affect anyone, but good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent its spread.
