Autumn has been a difficult season for San Diego, thanks to a large hepatitis A outbreak.
The outbreak was officially declared a local public health emergency by the San Diego Public Health Officer on September 1, 2017. The outbreak progressed and spread to nearby areas like Los Angeles and Santa Cruz. This prompted California Governor Jerry Brown to officially declare a state of emergency on October 13.
Hepatitis A is a virus spread through contaminated food and water. This usually occurs when the food or water is polluted with the fecal matter of someone who’s infected.
Once contracted, the hepatitis a virus causes an infection in the liver. It is highly contagious and can lead to liver disease. While the virus usually isn’t fatal, the liver disease can cause organ failure that leads to death.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, fatigue, nausea, jaundice, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Not every person infected with hepatitis A show symptoms; children are less likely to experience symptoms than adults.
As of November 8, the outbreak resulted in approximately 546 cases, 20 deaths and 369 hospitalizations in San Diego County. Due to the lengthy genetic testing that’s required to confirm a case, it’s difficult to assign exact numbers to the epidemic.
According to the county, they have been “focus[ing] on three key areas: vaccination, sanitation and education.”
Despite being a focus, there has been some difficulty to achieve the vaccination goals. While almost 91,000 people in the county have been vaccinated already, the country is suffering from a shortage of the shots. There have also been several other outbreaks across the country and the world which increased demand.
Recommended practice for the vaccine is for two shots given six months apart.
The first shot is estimated to be the more important of the pair. This shot should reduce chances of hepatitis A by about 90-95 percent from the virus, according to STAT News. The secondary vaccination boosts the protection levels to almost 100 percent.
Because of the shortage San Diego County has had to put off their drive to give residents both shots. Officials are instead putting the focus that first shot for unvaccinated locals.
Hepatitis A vaccines are particularly important for those who are homeless, use illegal drugs or have chronic liver disease. If if supplies were fully available, the high numbers would make it challenging to give vaccines to all these people.
As the vaccine shortage continues, the county is recommending other ways to avoid the virus.
Careful sanitation can greatly reduce chances of hepatitis A. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after going to the toilet and maintain consistent cleaning of bathrooms. Don’t share items such as towels, toothbrushes, eating utensils, food, or drinks with other people.
Typical alcohol-based hand sanitizers are generally not considered effective to prevent hepatitis A. The sanitizer works against bacteria but not viruses. Non-alcohol based sanitizers are more helpful against hepatitis A and similar viruses.
Whether you’re abroad or at home, take the time to protect yourself against hepatitis A. Wash your hands thoroughly and get vaccinated if necessary.
Unsure if you’re safe from hepatitis A? Passport Health can help! Give us a call at or book an appointment online now.
Have you had any experiences with Hepatitis A? Do you know anyone affected in San Diego? Let us know in the comments, or via Facebook and Twitter.
Written for Passport Health by Katherine Meikle. Katherine is a freelance writer and proud first-generation British-American living in Florida, where she was born and raised. She has a passion for travel and a love of writing, which go hand-in-hand.
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