CDC: Kentucky hepatitis A outbreak several months away from ending

(WKYT)
Published: Jul. 31, 2018 at 3:30 PM EDT
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

Kentucky health leaders are still looking to stop the spread of hepatitis A as dozens of new cases are being reported in recent weeks.

New numbers show more than 1,200 Kentuckians have reported cases of hepatitis A. More than half of those were hospitalized as a result.

73 of Kentucky's 120 counties now have at least one reported case. A large number of the reported cases have occurred in Jefferson County, but the CDC says the rate of reported cases is slowing in Kentucky's largest county. The problem health experts point to is the rest of the Commonwealth where numbers continue to climb.

"75 percent have drug use as a risk factor. About 16 percent have homelessness as a risk factor, but most of those homeless also have drug use as a risk factor, so drug use is really what's driving it," CDC epidemiologist Doug Thoroughman said, "Like I said, it's not injection drug use, it's just substance abuse in general and we think it's person-to-person transfer."

Officials believe it will be another six to nine months before Kentucky's outbreak may end. Some call the outbreak the worst in the U.S.

Hepatitis A is transmitted by oral contact with fecal matter. It attacks the liver and causes symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever and jaundice.