Hepatitis A outbreak confirmed in Broward County

Hepatitis A is spreading across the state, and the disease has now reached outbreak level in Broward County.

On Thursday, the Broward County Health Department confirmed there have been seven cases of adults with Hepatitis A since the first of the year, making Broward a high-risk zone like the counties to the north. Broward’s reported cases follow Palm Beach and Martin counties, which confirmed this week that they had reached the outbreak threshold of five cases, making them high-risk zones.

In Martin County, the health agency has announced its latest confirmed case of the liver disease, bringing the total to at least 16 since the first of the year. Eleven of the Martin County cases have occurred since April 1. The total represents the largest number of Hepatitis A cases recorded in Martin County in the past five years.

On Tuesday Palm Beach County reported six cases, with five of them recorded within the past 50 days. Health department officials say they are scouting for the source of the communicable disease of the liver, and as of Thursday had found no direct link between any of those infected. Statewide, 690 cases had been reported in 2019 through the end of March.

Deaths from Hepatitis A are unusual, but a Palm City husband and wife died two weeks ago due to complications from the disease, officials have said. A third death in Martin County was confirmed on Thursday.

Hepatitis A is usually spread person-to-person through objects, food or drinks that are contaminated by fecal matter from an infected person. Most adults with Hepatitis A have symptoms such as fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, which usually resolve within two months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection. Prior outbreaks were traced to infected frozen strawberries and raw scallops. It differs from Hepatitis C which spreads through contaminated blood.

The CDC recommends unvaccinated people who have been exposed within two weeks to the Hepatitis A virus get the vaccine or a shot of immune globulin to prevent severe illness. Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County spokesman Alex Shaw said the health department said people who are at high risk for Hepatitis A can get vaccines at its local health centers, which offer low-cost options to those who are uninsured or under-insured. Along with health providers, many local pharmacies also offer the vaccine to those who are 7 or older.

Dr. John Rivas, a board-certified liver specialist in Hollywood, said it can take Hepatitis A about six months to completely clear from the body once an individual becomes infected.

“What is scary is that you can be exposed today and not find out for three or four weeks,” he said. “That is what makes it difficult to control and why awareness and washing hands constantly is important.”

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