County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, #212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
Email:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov
Have questions about things like where to go for vaccinations or
other health care
services?
Call 2-1-1.
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Acute Communicable Disease Control
(Back
to Hepatitis A Main Page)
Hepatitis A Outbreak In
September 2017, LA County declared a hepatitis A outbreak
affecting homeless people and illicit drug users. In
addition, there has been an increase in hepatitis A
cases among men who have sex with men (MSM).
Outbreak Summary: 2017 Special Report
Hepatitis A is secreted into feces and transmitted by the fecal-oral route such as ingesting food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, touching a contaminated surface or objects, or having sexual contact with an infected partner.
Hepatitis A is best prevented through good hand and environmental hygiene and by vaccination. MSM are routinely recommended to receive the hepatitis A vaccine. In the context of the current outbreak, LA County has further expanded its HAV vaccine recommendations to include persons who are homeless and/or who use illicit drugs and to persons who have frequent close contact with the homeless or drug-using populations. This includes those who handle or serve food or who provide personal care, janitorial, maintenance, or sanitation services to these populations.
Suspect cases of HAV in a
person who is homeless should be
reported immediately by phone, while the patient
is still at the clinical facility, in order to
facilitate an on-site interview by a public health
investigator and prophylaxis of contacts: phone
888-397-3993. After hours call: 213-974-1234.
Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.