By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Since the beginning of 2018, Florida health officials began reporting a significant increase in hepatitis A infections and by 2019, a 500 percent increase in cases were observed.

Image/Clker-Free-Vector-Images

From January 1, 2018 through August 31, 2021, more than 5100 outbreak cases were reported, including 77 deaths.

The Florida Department of Health reported during the past 3 months, case numbers have returned to baseline incidence in Florida prior to the outbreak.

As of August 31, the Hepatitis A outbreak was declared over in Florida.

Nationally since 2016, more than 42,000 hepatitis A outbreak cases were reported in 36 states, including 390 deaths. 23 states to date still have an ongoing outbreak.