Health & Fitness
San Diego Begins Sanitary Street Washing Due To Hepatitis A Outbreak
County health officials demanded streets be disinfected in affected areas in the city of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO, CA – The city of San Diego began washing down streets and sidewalks in the East Village Monday in an effort to control an outbreak of hepatitis A that has killed at least 15 people and sickened around 400.
Disinfecting streets in affected areas is one of the measures demanded by county health officials in a letter to the city last week. The other primary step, setting up dozens of hand-washing stations, has already been carried out.
City crews removed belongings and debris from sidewalks and roadways to prepare for spraying with a formula that included bleach, according to broadcast reports.
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The county, meanwhile, has been providing vaccinations to thousands of San Diegans, with 7,300 given to people considered to be at-risk of contracting the disease, which attacks the liver. Around 19,000 have been given out total.
Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county public health officer, said about two- thirds of the victims are homeless and/or users of illicit drugs. The handwashing stations have been set up in areas where that population is prevalent, including downtown, Balboa Park and near the San Diego River.
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She said she expects the number of victims to increase because hepatitis A has a long incubation period. The toll of fatalities is of confirmed cases – an additional death is suspected of being from the disease but has not been confirmed by laboratory testing.
Also see:San Diego County Hepatitis A Outbreak: Fourth Person Dies
Hepatitis A Outbreak: Hand-Washing Stations Installed Around San Diego
