Health & Fitness

Hepatitis A Outbreak In NJ: Here's Where, What It Means

The disease has hit several counties hard, but hepatitis A has also popped up in unexpected places – including a Dunkin' Donuts.

New Jersey health officials are warning about an outbreak of hepatitis A that's hit several counties hard.
New Jersey health officials are warning about an outbreak of hepatitis A that's hit several counties hard. (CDC)

New Jersey health officials are warning about an outbreak of hepatitis A that's hit three counties hard, but it's also popped up in some unexpected places elsewhere – including a Dunkin' Donuts.

The state Department of Health has supplied hundreds of vaccines to several health departments to immunize uninsured or underinsured individuals at risk of the liver disease, according to a department release.

Anyone can get hepatitis A, but recently, three counties have reported increased cases among those who have had close, personal contact with someone who has hepatitis A, according to the release.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Hepatitis A can be prevented with a vaccine,” Health Commissioner Shereef Elnahal said.

A cluster of 26 hepatitis A cases have appeared in Camden (9), Burlington (6) and Gloucester (11) counties, according to health officials. The cases have largely involved individuals who are homeless and/or drug users.

Find out what's happening in Gloucester Townshipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last month, however, a worker at a Dunkin' Donuts in Ocean City was diagnosed with hepatitis A, the Cape May County Health Department and New Jersey Department of Health announced. The employee worked at the 962 West Ave. location while they were potentially infected between Jan. 27 and 31, officials said. Read more: Hepatitis A Notice Involving Ocean City Dunkin' Donuts: Officials

A letter also was recently sent home to parents of more than 1,300 students at Nottingham High School-North in Hamilton Township in Mercer County informing them of the potential exposure of hepatitis A, according to NJ101.5.

The virus is typically transmitted from person-to-person when it is ingested from objects, food or drinks contaminated by a stool from an infected person, according to the release.

This can happen when infected people do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom and then touch food or items that are shared with others. Hepatitis A can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill, accoridng to the release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and multiple state health departments are investigating hepatitis A outbreaks affecting high-risk populations.

Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms, including fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection, according to the CDC.

For more information about hepatitis A, visit https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/hepatitisa.shtml or https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/index.htm

The counties that have been hit hard by the disease have reached out to several inpatient and outpatient drug treatment centers, transitional housing and Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs). They have vaccinated and provided education to individuals seeking care at these facilities, according to the release.

“I'm encouraged that our partnership with these organizations is getting an effective prevention measure to the most vulnerable people in the state," said Elnahal.

Vaccinations being offered at the several locations are only for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. Individuals with insurance should go to their primary care physician.

Camden County is offering free vaccination clinics for the uninsured or underinsured in Bellmawr and Camden City on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays:

In Burlington, uninsured or underinsured individuals can call 609-265-5548 or 609-265-5533 to make an appointment to receive the vaccine.

In Gloucester, uninsured or underinsured individuals can call the Gloucester County Department of Health at 856-218– 4102 to schedule an appointment. Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, CAMCare, CompleteCare and Project HOPE are FQHCs serving Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties that provide the Hepatitis A vaccine.


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