Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) officials today confirmed 102 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in Nashville since December 2017. MPHD continues to work with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), as well as other Metro Departments and community organizations in response to the outbreak. Work continues to reach three at-risk groups. Those at greatest risk of exposure to hepatitis A in the current outbreak include:
- People who use drugs (not just injection drug use)
- Men who have sexual contact with men
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
The Health Department has led a hepatitis A vaccine campaign, along with community partners, to vaccinate more than 5,000 people in Nashville since the outbreak was announced in late May. Vaccination initiatives are continuing in an effort to end the outbreak, including working with organizations that serve the homeless, reaching out to the LGBTQ community, working with the Davidson County Sherriff’s Office to vaccinate DCSO inmates, and efforts to reach those who use drugs.
Health Department staff be offering free hepatitis A vaccine to the at risk groups in the coming weeks at the following events and locations:
- Nashville Rescue Mission: 9/20/2018, 639 Lafayette Street
- St. Thomas Medical Mission at Home: Municipal Auditorium, 9/22/2018 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Community Care Fellowship: 10/1/2018, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Room in the Inn: 705 Drexel Street, Thursday 9/27/2018, Thursday 10/11/2018, and Thursday 10/25/2018
- Operations Stand Down Event, Room in the Inn, 10/20/2018
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 are drug users.
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