Hepatitis A Outbreak Slows, But Health Emergency Continues In SD

SAN DIEGO, CA –The County Board of Supervisors on Monday extended the local hepatitis A health emergency for another two weeks amid signs the outbreak, first reported a year ago, is slowing down.

The board is required to review the need for continuing the state of emergency, which was declared Sept. 1, every 14 days, and public health officials told the board in a morning presentation that 10 cases or fewer were reported each week for the past eight weeks.

Since the outbreak began Nov. 22, 2016, 561 cases were logged, with 378 people requiring hospitalizations, officials said. Of those sickened by the disease, which attacks the liver, 20 have died, but none recently.

“Today’s report shows an overall downward trend in the number of cases,” said Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. “Maintaining vigilance and continuing our vaccination, sanitation and education efforts are critical, but combined efforts by the county, community partners, and local municipalities continue to take us in the right direction.”

Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by touching objects or eating food that someone with the virus has handled or by having sex with an infected person. The disease doesn't always cause symptoms but can cause fever, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools and diarrhea, according to the HHSA.

The county and city governments have taken several steps to address the outbreak, including the spraying of a sanitizing formula on streets and sidewalks, the placement of portable hand-washing stations and restrooms in areas where the homeless congregate, and a stepped-up immunization campaign.

Health partners have given 105,482 vaccinations, including 89,810 to at-risk populations, as part of the county’s vaccination, sanitation and education strategy.

County officials added that expanded outreach efforts are underway in targeted communities to make sure the outbreak does not extend into other populations, including:

• Four vaccination clinics at the LGBT Center, and four mobile van clinics are also scheduled in Hillcrest during the first two weeks of December
• Education and food safety guidelines provided to the faith-based community so they can continue charity and food distribution efforts over the holidays
• Providing vaccinations at the current city camp site and three upcoming tent locations serving the homeless populations.

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--City News Service contributed to this report/Pixabay image