The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) issued a public health alert over a statewide hepatitis A outbreak.

Hepatitis A is manifested here as icterus, or jaundice of the conjunctivae and facial skin/CDC
Hepatitis A is manifested here as icterus, or jaundice of the conjunctivae and facial skin/CDC

Since April 2018, 65 cases of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection have been reported. These cases are all individuals who have recent experience of homelessness, unstable housing, and/or substance use disorder.

One person has died as a result of their infection.

Of the 65 hepatitis A cases, 45 percent are located in Boston with an increasing number in other cities and towns, including the Southeast and metro Boston areas.

“We have seen a spike in cases of hepatitis A, with outbreaks being reported in at least 10 other states in similar populations, constituting thousands of cases nationwide,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “As part of our statewide response here in Massachusetts, we are reaching out to all local health departments to encourage and assist their efforts to provide education and vaccinations for people at risk.”

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Hepatitis A Vaccine Image/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Image/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

“There may be misconceptions about the different types of hepatitis,” said Dr. Catherine Brown, state epidemiologist. “Hepatitis A infection can be prevented through vaccination and one dose of vaccine can provide substantial protection. It can also be prevented through proper hand washing, especially after using the toilet and before eating. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A infection; most otherwise healthy people recover on their own.”

Hepatitis A is transmitted primarily through fecal-oral contact that can be associated with living in unsanitary conditions and poor hygiene. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), grey stools, and dark urine.