Kentucky's Hepatitis A Outbreak Surpasses 3,000 Cases
WLKY
12:37 PM EST Dec 15, 2018
LEXINGTON, Ky. —Kentucky health officials said more than 3,000 cases of hepatitis A have been reported as the outbreak reaches its second year.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health said patients have been hospitalized in more than half of the state's 3,122 reported cases from August 2017 through the first week of December 2018. There have been 19 reported deaths in the outbreak.
Jefferson County, Kentucky's most-populated county, has the most reported cases with 642. Carter County has the highest incident rate per capita with 126.
Officials in Jefferson and Fayette counties have recommended that all residents get vaccinated against the disease. Previous vaccination efforts were targeted at people with a high-risk of contracting hepatitis A, including those who use illegal drugs and the homeless.
Hepatitis A is transmitted by oral contact with fecal matter. It attacks the liver and causes symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever and jaundice.
12:37 PM EST Dec 15, 2018
LEXINGTON, Ky. —Kentucky health officials said more than 3,000 cases of hepatitis A have been reported as the outbreak reaches its second year.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health said patients have been hospitalized in more than half of the state's 3,122 reported cases from August 2017 through the first week of December 2018. There have been 19 reported deaths in the outbreak.
Jefferson County, Kentucky's most-populated county, has the most reported cases with 642. Carter County has the highest incident rate per capita with 126.
Officials in Jefferson and Fayette counties have recommended that all residents get vaccinated against the disease. Previous vaccination efforts were targeted at people with a high-risk of contracting hepatitis A, including those who use illegal drugs and the homeless.
Hepatitis A is transmitted by oral contact with fecal matter. It attacks the liver and causes symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever and jaundice.
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