Metro Health confirms more cases in Nashville Hepatitis A outbreak

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Metro Public Health Department confirmed two more Hepatitis A cases on Thursday.

This brings the total to 16 confirmed cases in the outbreak in the Nashville area.

Metro Public Health said Hep A outbreaks are affecting several nearby states including Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia since early last year. Metro first sent out an alert about the outbreak two weeks ago.

The disease is usually spread from person to person primarily among people who are homeless, people who use drugs, or men who have sexual contact with men.

Metro Public Health offered free vaccines to people in these risk groups. There are three health centers open to the public 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. from Monday to Friday:

• East Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane
• Lentz Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Ave.
• Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Ave

Metro also works with Neighborhood Health to distribute the Hep A vaccine by walk-in or by appointment at these locations:

• Downtown Clinic, 526 8th Avenue South (adjacent to the Room in the Inn campus), open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Madison Clinic, 601 W. Due West Avenue, open 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday
• My House Clinic, 442 Metroplex Dr. Building D, Suite 200, open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday

Common symptoms include for Hepatitis a include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin), and clay-colored stools. The disease can be severe in some people possibly requiring hospitalization. Most recover completely within a few weeks, according to the health department.

Metro Health said Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. Hepatitis A can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination.