Key takeaways:
- There have been 29 confirmed circumstances of hepatitis A in Los Angeles this yr, following 165 in 2024.
- Though homelessness is a danger issue, most circumstances this yr have been amongst individuals with out housing points.
Los Angeles has declared an outbreak of hepatitis A virus based mostly on “elevated virus ranges” in wastewater surveillance and a “sustained enhance” in circumstances during the last yr, well being officers introduced.
In line with the Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being, there have been 29 confirmed circumstances of HAV within the county to this point this yr. There have been 165 confirmed circumstances in 2024 — almost triple the quantity in 2023, the well being division stated. It advisable vaccination and good hygiene to keep away from an infection.
Knowledge derived from Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being.
“The continuing enhance in hepatitis A circumstances alerts that fast motion is required to guard public well being,” Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County well being officer, stated in a press launch.
“The hepatitis A vaccine is protected, efficient and affords long-term safety,” Davis stated. “Getting vaccinated is easy, and it’s one of the vital essential issues you are able to do in your personal well being and the well being of our whole neighborhood. Additionally it is essential for residents to scrub their fingers with cleaning soap and water repeatedly, and particularly earlier than consuming and making ready meals and after utilizing the toilet.”
The well being division began investigating a possible HAV outbreak in mid-March 2024 after figuring out 5 circumstances amongst individuals experiencing homelessness.
The county began providing free HAV vaccination to unhoused individuals and launched outreach efforts with neighborhood organizations to boost consciousness in regards to the an infection.
Though HAV typically causes gentle, short-term sickness, it’s extremely contagious and — in older individuals and people with different well being points — may cause liver failure and dying, based on the CDC. HAV spreads from individual to individual by way of shut contact, consuming contaminated meals or drinks, or publicity to urine or feces from somebody who’s contaminated.
Since 2016, there have been outbreaks in a number of states amongst individuals who use medicine, individuals experiencing homelessness and males who’ve intercourse with males, based on the CDC.
Within the present outbreak, officers stated that whereas individuals experiencing homelessness have been among the many circumstances, a lot of the 29 infections reported in 2025 have been amongst individuals who haven’t lately traveled and don’t have housing danger elements.
In line with the county, infections amongst individuals with out housing danger elements have corresponded with will increase in HAV detected in wastewater.
The well being division stated it has made HAV vaccines freely out there for any resident who has not beforehand been vaccinated, individuals experiencing homelessness and individuals who use medicine, together with medicine that aren’t injected.
“By our cell vaccine models, public well being continues to supply free hepatitis A vaccines to individuals experiencing homelessness in encampments and at interim home websites the place there’s danger of potential publicity,” the well being division stated within the launch. “Along with vaccination, public well being recommends residents observe good hygiene practices, together with washing their fingers with cleaning soap and water earlier than consuming and making ready meals, and after utilizing the toilet.”
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