iStock/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) — California has declared a state of emergency over a hepatitis A outbreak that health officials say is the largest person-to-person outbreak in the U.S. since a vaccine became available over 20 years ago.
At least 18 people have died in the outbreak that has affected San Diego, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, and more, according to the California Department of Public Health. Gov. Jerry Brown issued the declaration on Friday “to increase its supply of hepatitis A vaccines in order to control the current outbreak,” he said in a statement.
Vaccines have already been distributed to at-risk populations in affected areas, according to the governor, but he said “additional supplies are needed.”
“Today’s proclamation gives the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) authority to immediately purchase vaccines directly from manufacturers and distribute them to impacted communities,” Brown said in the statement on Friday.
San Diego has had the most cases of hepatitis A (490 cases out of at least 576 reported cases), according to the CDPH.
The CDPH said on its website that most of the people infected in the outbreak are homeless, use illicit drugs (injected or non-injected), or both.
The Hepatitis A virus is spread when the virus is ingested from contact with hands, objects, food, or drinks that have been contaminated by the feces of an infected person, according to the CDPH. Symptoms of those infected include fever, feeling ill, yellowness of the skin, lack of appetite, and nausea, the CDPH said.
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