In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Nashville, TN, Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) officials today reported two new hep A cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16 since December 2017.

Image/Robert Herriman
Image/Robert Herriman

Large hepatitis A outbreaks have occurred since early 2017 in several states, including ongoing outbreaks in California, Utah, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, spreading from person to person primarily among people who are homeless and people who use illicit drugs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those at greatest risk of exposure to hepatitis A in the current outbreaks include:

  • Illicit drug users (not just injection drug use)
  • Men who have sexual contact with men
  • Individuals experiencing homelessness

MPHD continues to work with TDH and CDC on testing specimen collected from those confirmed as having hep A.  Last week MPHD received confirmation from the CDC that genotype test results from one of the samples in Nashville matched the strain of hepatitis A found in the recent outbreaks around the country.

MPHD continues to offer free hepatitis A vaccine at all three Health Centers to the three risk groups.  Based on current confirmed cases, the immediate priority includes men who have sexual contact with men and individuals who use illicit drugs (injection and non-injection).

MPHD received an initial shipment of 1,000 doses of the hep A vaccine from TDH two weeks ago.  TDH provided an additional 750 doses of vaccine today with more available as needed.

MPHD operates three health centers open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday:

  • East Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane
  • Lentz Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Avenue
  • Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Avenue

An agreement with Neighborhood Health has been established to provide hepatitis A vaccine to those in the three at-risk groups. Neighborhood Health locations and hours of operation are as follows:

Downtown Clinic, 526 8th Avenue South (adjacent to the Room in the Inn campus)
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Madison Clinic, 601 W. Due West Avenue
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday

My House Clinic, 442 Metroplex Dr. Building D, Suite 200
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday

Walk-ins are welcome.  Appointments can be made with Neighborhood Health by calling 615-227-3000.