Hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County, California, declared a public health emergency

Since early 2017, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency has been investigating a local Hepatitis A outbreak involving 444 cases and 16 deaths. The majority of the infected people are homeless and/or illicit drug users, although some cases have been neither. The outbreak is being spread person-to-person and through contact with a fecally-contaminated environment.

Advice

Travellers should be aware that hepatitis A is preventable through vaccination. When there is a risk of exposure to hepatitis A virus, travellers can basically eliminate this risk by obtaining the vaccine prior to travelling and by exercising caution and avoiding consuming contaminated food and water and close personal contact (including sexual activities) with infected persons.