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Columbus Public Health investigating 7 Hepatitis A cases during statewide outbreak


Columbus Public Health sent out an alert Friday about Hepatitis A, as the team deals with a growing number of Hepatitis A cases. (WSYX/WTTE){p}{/p}
Columbus Public Health sent out an alert Friday about Hepatitis A, as the team deals with a growing number of Hepatitis A cases. (WSYX/WTTE)

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Columbus Public Health sent out an alert Friday about Hepatitis A, as the team deals with a growing number of Hepatitis A cases.

In June, the Ohio Department of Health declared that there was a statewide outbreak.

"I think initially when it was called in June, I think we had one case maybe," said Dr. Mysheika Roberts MD, Health Commissioner for Columbus Public Health, "but, in the last few months our case count has increased, and just in the last week, we had three cases come in."

It is a liver disease that spreads when food, hands, or objects contaminated with stool are put in the mouth.

"You're going to kind of feel like the flu," she said.

Ohio is one of ten states dealing with an outbreak across the country.

Columbus Public Health is investigating about seven cases of Hepatitis A.

"The majority of them are men, we have had a few women and like I said, all of them have had one of the risk factors, either men who have sex with men, homelessness or IV drug user," said Dr. Roberts.

The team has been getting out into the community.

"We have been going to homeless camps, we have been going to substance abuse disorder clinics, we have been going to bars and clubs," she said, "places that we think that this population who is at risk would be and would be interested in getting vaccinated, we have even gone to jails."

They have reached more than 500 vaccinations since the alert came out.

The plan, to keep reaching out, and sending two big messages: get vaccinated and wash your hands.

"Before eating, before serving someone else food and obviously after going to the restroom," she said.

Public Health said they haven't had any cases yet from restaurant workers to their knowledge.

If you want a vaccination, contact your doctor.

You can also go to a pharmacy or contact Columbus Public Health if you don't have a provider.

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