An outbreak of hepatitis A in Southern California raised concern among Colorado health officials after two homeless people who apparently contracted the disease in San Diego were treated here.
After the cases were reported in late summer, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment began working with homeless shelters and health clinics to vaccinate people and warn them about the danger of contracting the viral disease. One of the cases was in El Paso County, the other was on the Western Slope, CDPHE spokeswoman Shannon Barbare said Monday.
California health officials believe that an epidemic that has infected more than 500 people statewide since March began in San Diego County, according to a report last week by The Washington Post . Nineteen people there have died from the disease, nearly all of them homeless.
In Colorado, the number of hepatitis A cases reported in the general population more than doubled this year , and many were spread person-to-person among men who have sex with other men.
Hepatitis A is typically rare in the U.S. Last year there were only 23 cases of hepatitis A in Colorado.
As of Oct. 20, Colorado had 58 reported cases of hepatitis A, state epidemiologist Rachel Herlihy said. “Of these, two cases have occurred in people experiencing homelessness. Both these cases are linked to the ongoing outbreak in San Diego.”
Other states besides California have also experienced outbreaks of the disease, Herlihy said. “Ongoing outbreaks in other states are concerning to us and we are doing what we have to do” to protect Coloradans.
Those who are at most risk for infection — the homeless, IV-drug users, men who have sex with men — should be vaccinated. The vaccine is given in two doses six months apart. Local health departments have programs to help people pay for vaccines if they cannot afford them.
Hepatitis A can be transmitted through food or drink that has been handled by poorly washed hands, fecal residue, sexual contact and shared needles. It can damage the liver and cause jaundice, fatigue, severe stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea.
Most people who contract the disease will recover after several weeks. Some severe cases, though, can take months to recover from or can be fatal.
The disease differs from hepatitis C, which in a majority of cases becomes chronic.
Recent increases in newly reported hepatitis C cases have been observed both in the U.S. and in Colorado, according to the state health department. The increase has been associated with rising injection drug use across the nation.
“The largest proportion by age group for acute hepatitis C cases in Colorado 2013-16 was the 20-29 year olds,” according to a report on viral hepatitis the state health department released in September.
Source: http:///www.denverpost.com/2017/10/30/two-colorado-hepatitis-a-cases-linked-california-outbreak-killed-19-people/