In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Louisville, KY, city health officials report 432 cases and 3 associated deaths since the outbreak was declared in Nov. 2017.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness continues to work to control an outbreak of acute hepatitis A that has centered in the city’s homeless, people with unstable housing, and among those who with any illicit drug use (not just injection drug use).
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by a virus. It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water. The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated. As of June 5, 2018 at least almost 67,000 people living in the region have been vaccinated. Of those, more than 5,700 food service workers have been vaccinated.
Since August 1, 2017, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) has identified 629 cases of acute hepatitis A, including 401 hospitalizations and 6 deaths as of mid-May.
Related:
- Hepatitis A: Additional cases confirmed in Nashville
- West Virginia hepatitis A outbreak tops 100 cases
- Indiana reports increase in hepatitis A cases, vaccinations urged for travelers to other states
- Hepatitis A deaths reported in Salt Lake County
- Michigan hepatitis A death toll now 25
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