The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 34 hepatitis A outbreak cases last week, bringing the total for the year to 239.
From January 1, 2018 through February 15, 2020, 4,184 hepatitis A cases were reported.
While Polk County in the Tampa Bay area continues to report some of the most cases in the state (16), other counties in the area have seen a precipitous decrease. Florida counties seeing the most cases this year include Duval (38), Volusia (24) and Brevard (13).
The following groups are at highest risk for acquiring Hepatitis A Virus infection (HAV) or developing serious complications from HAV infection in these outbreaks and should be offered the hepatitis A vaccine in order to prevent or control an outbreak:
- People who use drugs (injection or non-injection)
- People experiencing unstable housing or homelessness
- Men who have sex with men (MSM)
- People who are currently or were recently incarcerated
- People with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
Nationally, 31,220 outbreak cases have been reported from 32 states since 2016, including 314 deaths.