Hepatitis A outbreak in the city of Vinnytsia. (Source: German agenzianova)

Schools in the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia will switch to online learning starting October 30 amid a hepatitis A outbreak that has sent scores of children and adults to the hospital, officials said.

In a post on his Facebook account, Ukraine's Deputy Health Minister Ihor Kuzin wrote: "It is important now to identify the epicenter of the outbreak and its causes in order to prevent the virus from spreading in the community as soon as possible."

So far, 141 people have been hospitalized in the city of Vinnytsia and the region, said Ihor Kuzin. The cause of the outbreak has not yet been determined. Health officials are examining the situation in areas with a high number of cases and creating an epidemiological map to track the contact history of infected cases.

Hepatitis A is a viral disease that damages liver epithelial cells and impairs liver function. The disease is highly contagious in a short period of time through close contact with an infected person or through consumption of food or drinks containing the pathogen.

People with hepatitis A often feel sick for a few weeks or even months, but usually recover completely. Some people who develop severe illness are in high-risk groups or have underlying health conditions.