Los Angeles stories Hepatitis A Outbreak

The Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being has declared a community-wide outbreak of hepatitis A following a sustained improve in medical instances and elevated virus ranges detected in native wastewater. Public Well being confirmed 165 hepatitis A instances in LA County in 2024, which is 3 times the variety of instances reported in 2023. Though unhoused people are at greater threat for contracting hepatitis A an infection as a result of they usually have restricted entry to handwashing and toileting services, of the 29 hepatitis A instances confirmed to this point in 2025, most have been amongst folks with out journey or housing threat elements. This improve in hepatitis A infections amongst folks with out threat elements has corresponded with latest will increase in hepatitis A wastewater concentrations. Whereas the chance to most people stays low, community-wide safety actions are wanted to make sure that transmission of hepatitis A is diminished. 

Vaccination and good hygiene are the perfect methods to stop hepatitis A.

“The continuing improve in hepatitis A instances indicators that fast motion is required to guard public well being,” stated Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Well being Officer. “The hepatitis A vaccine is protected, efficient, and affords long-term safety. Getting vaccinated is straightforward, and it’s one of the necessary issues you are able to do to your personal well being and the well being of our total neighborhood. It’s also necessary for residents to clean their arms with cleaning soap and water repeatedly and particularly earlier than consuming and getting ready meals and after utilizing the lavatory.”

Public Well being continues to watch for and instantly examine suspect hepatitis A instances and is working carefully with healthcare suppliers to request that they continue to be vigilant for hepatitis A. Public Well being can also be working with organizations that serve folks experiencing homelessness to coach the neighborhood concerning the improve in hepatitis A, encourage folks to get vaccinated, and advocate these with signs of hepatitis A to hunt medical care.

Vaccination is Protected, Efficient, and Urgently Wanted for These Who Are Unvaccinated or At Excessive Threat

The hepatitis A vaccine is often a two dose vaccine collection that’s protected, extremely efficient in stopping an infection, and has been routinely given to kids for over a decade. Residents are urged to verify if they’ve been vaccinated for hepatitis A by contacting their medical supplier. To guard neighborhood well being, Public Well being strongly encourages vaccination for:

· Any LA County resident who didn’t beforehand obtain a hepatitis A vaccination and is searching for safety

· Individuals experiencing homelessness

· Individuals who use medication (together with non-injection)

Full safety requires two doses of hepatitis A vaccine administered at the very least 6 months aside. Moreover, beforehand unvaccinated folks can obtain hepatitis A vaccine quickly after publicity to guard towards creating the an infection.

For residents with insurance coverage, vaccination is on the market by means of healthcare suppliers and taking part pharmacies. For an inventory of vaccination websites that supply hepatitis A vaccination go to: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/docs/Public_HepA_Referral.pdf. Uninsured or underinsured residents can entry vaccination by means of our Public Well being clinics.

Via our cellular vaccine models, Public Well being continues to supply free hepatitis A vaccines to folks experiencing homelessness in encampments and at interim housing websites the place there’s threat of potential publicity.

Along with vaccination, Public Well being recommends residents comply with good hygiene practices together with washing their arms with cleaning soap and water earlier than consuming and getting ready meals and after utilizing the lavatory.

About Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a extremely contagious liver an infection brought on by the hepatitis A virus. It could vary from a gentle sickness lasting a number of weeks to a extreme sickness lasting a number of months. Signs of hepatitis A embody fever, weak spot, fatigue, nausea, lack of urge for food, jaundice (yellowing of the pores and skin or eyes), abdomen ache, vomiting, darkish urine, pale stools, and diarrhea.

Though uncommon, hepatitis A may cause dying in some folks. Hepatitis A often spreads when an individual unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, meals, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected quantities of stool from an contaminated individual.

Vaccination is one of the simplest ways to stop illness. An infection might be prevented by vaccination after a identified publicity to an individual with infectious hepatitis A. Older adults and folks with weakened immune techniques would possibly profit from receiving immune globulin (IG) along with hepatitis A vaccination for prevention after an publicity. For any questions on hepatitis A or the necessity for immune globulin, Public Well being recommends that you just converse to your main care supplier. There isn’t any particular antiviral remedy for hepatitis A. Whereas immediate vaccination is prone to forestall an infection, an infection could happen in those that obtain vaccination too late.

For questions or to discover a close by clinic or physician, name the Public Well being InfoLine at 1-833-540-0473, open daily from 8 a.m. to eight p.m.

For extra data, go to: ph.lacounty.gov/HepA.