Nashville Hepatitis Outbreak Could Continue 'For Months'

NASHVILLE, TN -- Davidson County's hepatitis outbreak continues to spread, as the health department confirmed there have been 23 cases, including four at the jail, since the outbreak began in December.

“We are early in this response, but based on what we know about hepatitis A and the initial cases, we anticipate the outbreak and response could continue over many months,” Joanna Shaw-KaiKai, M.D., an infectious disease physician at the Metro Public Health Department, said in a release. “The Health Department’s top objectives in responding are to investigate cases, identify contacts in a timely manner, and increase prevention and vaccination awareness among the community and clinical partners.”

After confirming the outbreak the health department began offering free vaccinations to illegal drug users, people who are homeless and men who have sex with men, groups that have a higher risk of contracting the liver infection. Free vaccines are available at all three Health Centers - East at 1015 East Trinity Lane, Lentz at 2500 Charlotte Avenue and Woodbine at 224 Oriel Avenue. The immediate priority is the aforementioned at-risk groups and the health department emphasized that all illicit drug users, not just those who use injectable drugs, are at-risk.

Metro Health received an initial shipment of 1,000 doses of the hepatitis A vaccine from the state three weeks ago and an additional 750 doses last week. The health department said the state has more doses available as needed.

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Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice and clay-colored stools. The disease can be severe in some people possibly requiring hospitalization, but most recover completely within a few weeks.

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.

Health officials began offering hepatitis A vaccinations June 9 to inmates and staff alike at Davidson County Sheriff's Office facilities and that effort should be completed by the end of the week, the health department said. Going forward, the vaccine will be offered when a person is booked. In addition, all inmates are now screened for the disease before they are taken to court dates or appointments and those showing signs or symptoms are held in isolation until they are cleared by medical staff.

Though there have been no confirmed cases among people who are homeless, the health department and homeless commission are working together to vaccinate people who are homeless and will offer six different clinics county-wide:

• June 18, 9 a.m. to noon: Loaves and Fishes, Holy Name Church, 521 Woodland Street
• June 20, 9 to 11 a.m.: The Little Pantry That Could, 2011 24th Avenue North
• June 27, 9 a.m. to noon: Downtown Library, 615 Church Street
• June 29, 9 to 11 a.m., Caldwell Park, 4905 Edmonson Pike
• July 2, 9 to 11 a.m.: City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, 701 Gallatin Road South
• July 6, 9 a.m to noon: Community Care Fellowship, 511 South at 8th Street

Image via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention