Hepatitis A Epidemics in Akhaltsikhe

                                               Activist Group Sues Local Government

A local NGO in Akhaltsikhe has sued the local government for more than 600 cases of the viral Hepatitis A infection in the area. The court decision is pending.

In October 2001 the National Center for Disease has identified a Hepatitis A epidemic in Akhaltsikhe, which affected more than 600 citizens. As the age and professional groups of the infected varied widely, a suspicion fell on contamination of the public utilities.

A local non-governmental group named The Union of Democrat Meskhs involved itself in investigation of the reasons early on. Already in December 2001 upon demand of the Union the Ministry for Health and Social Security issued its conclusion identifying water contamination and poor sanitation at secondary schools as primary reasons for the epidemic.

Based on this official conclusion The Union of Democrat Meskhs initiated a civil action uniting approximately 400 plaintiffs and sued the local governmental bodies in January 2002. Each of the affected plaintiffs asked for 600 Lari (approximately 300 USD) in damages.

The lawsuit indicates two responsible official bodies: a city municipality in charge for general contamination of water supply and the regional government for the appalling sanitary condition at schools.

Following the civil suit, the prosecutor’s office initiated a criminal investigation of the case. Amiran Meskheli, leader of the activist NGO fears that the criminal investigation procedures that have precedence over the civil suit may delay identification of the responsible bodies.

While the case review drags on in the courts, the National Center for Disease Control reports 48 additional cases of Hepatitis A in Akhaltsikhe this year.

For additional information, please contact:

Hepatitis A, Union of Democrat Meskhs
National Center for Disease Control,  Prosecutor’s office