July 23, 2018

Hepatitis A Outbreak Spreads To Additional Indiana Counties

Hepatitis A is highly-contagious because it’s spread through fecal-oral means. - Steve Burns/WFIU-WTIU News

Hepatitis A is highly-contagious because it’s spread through fecal-oral means.

Steve Burns/WFIU-WTIU News

New data from the Indiana State Department of Health shows the hepatitis A outbreak is spreading.

Ten counties are now seeing a spike in cases. Clark County had 65 confirmed cases of hepatitis A, as of Friday. Floyd and Lawrence and counties each had 43.

The state says 283 people have been diagnosed with the liver infection since November. That’s 14 times higher than the number of cases the state typically sees in a year.

One person in Indiana has died from the infection.

The state is working with affected counties to ensure they have enough vaccines. Nearly 44,000 doses have been distributed by public and private health providers.

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