San Diego Hepatitis A Outbreak: County Extends Public Health Emergency

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to extend an emergency declaration over the hepatitis A outbreak in the San Diego region.

According to the county's Health and Human Services Agency, there have been 516 cases associated with the outbreak, including 19 deaths, since November. A total of 357 people have been hospitalized.

Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer, told the supervisors that testing results from another 40 suspected cases are pending.

Wooten declared the emergency on Sept. 1. The board is required to review the need for extending the declaration every 14 days.

In addition to extending the emergency declaration, the board directed staff to prepare a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown and the director of the state Office of Emergency Services requesting California Disaster Act assistance and other help as appropriate. The governor declared a state emergency on Oct. 13.

The city and county have taken several steps to address the outbreak, including a stepped-up immunization campaign that has resulted in administering nearly 84,000 hepatitis A vaccinations, including 70,748 to the at-risk population, which includes the homeless, illicit drug users, people with chronic liver disease, law enforcement and emergency personnel, people who work with homeless or treatment programs, food handlers and men who have sex with men.

More than 4,600 vaccinations have been provided to inmates at four area jails, Wooten said.

Other efforts include spraying sanitizing formula on streets and sidewalks, and placing portable hand-washing stations and restrooms in areas where the homeless congregate.

The city of San Diego has also proclaimed a local health emergency. Because of the outbreak's connection with the homeless, the set up a tent camp near Balboa Park and boosted the amount of safe parking spots for people who live in their vehicles.

Supervisor Ron Roberts pushed back against criticism that county officials haven't done enough to combat the spread of the disease.

"Almost 84,000 vaccinations is an incredible effort that has been undertaken," Roberts said.

Nick Macchione, director of the Health and Human Services Agency, said the county has so far spent $4 million on trying to curtail hepatitis A, which is usually transmitted by touching objects or eating food that someone with the virus has handled or by having sex with an infected person.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include jaundice, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and light-colored stools. Symptoms usually appear over several days and last less than two months. However, some people can be ill for as long as six months. Hepatitis A can also sometimes cause liver failure and death.

Hepatitis A vaccines are available at doctors' offices and clinics, as well as at some retail pharmacies. People without medical insurance can go to a county public health center to get vaccinated. For a list of locations, call 211 or visit www.sdiz.org.

RELATED:

• 19 Dead In San Diego County Hepatitis A Outbreak
• Gov. Brown Declares State Of Emergency Over Hepatitis A Outbreak
• 18 Dead In San Diego County Hepatitis A Outbreak
• Hepatitis A Outbreak: San Diego Takes Steps To Educate Public
• Hepatitis A Outbreak Declared Emergency In San Diego County
• Hepatitis A Outbreak: Hand-Washing Stations Installed Around San Diego
• San Diego County Hepatitis A Outbreak Linked To Santa Cruz Strain

City News Service and Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

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