The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver disease, among its homeless population.
Health officials said five cases of hepatitis A have been reported since mid-March among homeless people. The virus, which can spread between people even before they show symptoms, can be found in the feces and blood of those who have been infected. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dark urine, and yellow eyes and skin.
“People who are homeless are at increased risk for hepatitis A infection because they often have limited access to sanitation and handwashing facilities,” the department wrote in a statement.
The health department said it was offering free hepatitis A vaccines to homeless people in encampments and temporary housing sites where there is a risk of potential exposure. The vaccine can be given to people even after they have been exposed to protect them against developing the infection.
The department said it was working closely with health care and homeless service providers to increase awareness about the virus and the growing risks. He urged residents to get vaccinated and wash their hands after using the bathroom.
The last known hepatitis A outbreak in California occurred between 2016 and 2018, primarily among homeless people or people who use drugs in settings with limited sanitation.
When the outbreak was contained in 2018, the state reported 708 cases. More than 60% of those infected required hospitalization and at least 21 people died, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Last year, a similar outbreak occurred among the homeless population in Portland, Maine. Health officials recorded at least 18 confirmed cases of hepatitis A in the city's homeless population.
So far, three states have hepatitis A outbreaks.
