KY: 2018/2019 Hepatitis A outbreak

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Source: https://www.wvxu.org/post/nky-offici...-over#stream/0

NKY Officials Say Hepatitis A Outbreak Is Over
By Ambriehl Crutchfield • 45 minutes ago

The Northern Kentucky Health Department is declaring the year-long hepatitis A outbreak over.

The viral infection spreads when people ingest the virus from objects, food or drinks.

Last August, four Northern Kentucky restaurants had workers that tested positive with the infection.

Northern Kentucky Health District Director Health Lynne Saddler says the most vulnerable populations are people experiencing homelessness and people who use drugs. "We worked very hard with our county jails to go in on a regular basis and vaccinate people," she says. "We vaccinated over 4,600 people."

The Northern Kentucky health department says there have been zero new cases in the past four months. Saddler says this is because of local partnerships with pharmacies and homeless shelters...

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx

Counts as of August 3, 2019
Total Outbreak:4,837
Hospitalizations:2,340
Deaths: 60

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx
Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of July 13, 2019
Total Outbreak:4,793
Hospitalizations:2,311
Deaths: 59

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx
Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of June 8, 2019
Total Outbreak: 4,715
Hospitalizations: 2,274
Deaths: 58

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx
Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of May 11, 2019
Total Outbreak: 4,641
Hospitalizations: 2,242
Deaths: 57

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx
Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of April 13, 2019
Total Outbreak: 4,543
Hospitalizations: 2,199
Deaths: 53

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Source: https://www.courier-journal.com/stor...ak/3434886002/

Yes, Kentucky is fighting back against nation's worst hepatitis A outbreak. Here's how
Chris Kenning, Louisville Courier Journal Published 6:43 p.m. ET April 12, 2019

COVINGTON, Ky. ? With deaths from Kentucky?s hepatitis A outbreak rising even as new cases decline, health leaders said Friday they had hired a roving team of nurses to administer vaccines in rural county jails to help counter the virus.

The Department for Public Health also is providing more vaccine storage equipment, money and expertise to a handful of currently hard-hit counties, including giving $40,000 for vaccines Pulaksi County, to combat the state?s 16-month-old outbreak.

"We could see the trend go back up, so it?s not a time to diminish efforts at all," said Dr. Jeff Howard, the commissioner of public health, who appeared on a panel with other health leaders before a Kentucky Public Health Association gathering Friday in Covington...

...First declared in November 2017, Kentucky's hepatitis A outbreak began in Louisville, which fought to contain it as it began to explode last spring across rural Kentucky, catching fire and among the state?s large numbers of rural drug users.

The outbreak has sickened 4,476 and killed 53, according to the latest state report.

Kentucky has had more deaths than any of the other 17 states with similar hepatitis A outbreaks and more cases. But other cities or jurisdictions have had higher incidence rates per 100,000 people, officials said.

The high numbers of deaths in Kentucky are largely because many drug users are already afflicted with other medical problems such as hepatitis C, officials said

It continues on a downward trend, officials said. The state recorded 36 new cases statewide in the week ending March 30, down from a high of 151 cases per week last fall.

It is now in 107 of the state's 120 counties, according to the most recent state report.

Some counties are finding new ways to reach the drug users primarily spreading it, officials said Friday. Alongside jails, hospitals, syringe exchanges and drug treatment centers, some have held vaccine clinics in a convenience store or given vaccine vouchers to those at risk to give to friends.

And the CDC has made more federally funded vaccines available, Thoroughman said...

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx
Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of March 30, 2019
Total Outbreak: 4,476
Hospitalizations: 2,164
Deaths: 53

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx
Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of March 2, 2019
Total Outbreak: 4,288
Hospitalizations: 2,065
Deaths: 44

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx
Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of Feb. 23, 2019
Total Outbreak: 4,229
Hospitalizations: 2,036
Deaths: 43

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Source: http://kentuckytoday.com/stories/hep...0-deaths,17703

Hep A outbreak in Ky. nearing 4,000 cases with 40 deaths
Posted Monday, February 11, 2019 10:20 am
By TOM LATEK, Kentucky Today

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) - Kentucky public health officials keep recommending vaccination for Hepatitis A as the outbreak nears 4,000 cases with 40 deaths across the state.

According to figures from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, through Jan. 26 the number of cases stood at 3,919, resulting in 1,905 hospitalizations and 40 deaths, since the outbreak began being tracked in November 2017. Cases have been reported in 103 of Kentucky?s 120 counties.

Eighty counties have reported five or more cases, meaning they meet the threshold for what is considered an outbreak of Hepatitis A virus. Boyd, Carter, Fayette, Floyd, Jefferson, Kenton, Laurel, Madison and Whitley counties report 100 or more cases associated with the outbreak...

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Source: https://www.wtvq.com/2019/02/09/stat...aths-reported/


Statewide hepatitis A outbreak continues, more deaths reported
By Tom Kenny -
February 9, 2019

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) ? The Kentucky Department for Public Health continues its push for people to get the hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible to avoid getting the virus and spreading the disease.

Since the outbreak began in August 2017, reported cases continue to rise and have now been recorded in 103 of Kentucky?s 120 counties, according to the state...

...About 80-percent of the cases in the current outbreak are people in the high risk groups, according to the Department for Public Health (DPH).

As of January 26, 2019, a total of 3,819 cases have been reported in Kentucky due to the outbreak. There have been 40 known deaths and 1,862 hospitalizations, according to the state...

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Source: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/deh...Aoutbreak.aspx

Hepatitis A Outbreak Status
Counts as of Jan. 12, 2019
Total Outbreak: 3,719
Hospitalizations: 1,825
Deaths: 22
Notice: In accordance with 902 KAR 2:020, cases of acute hepatitis A should be reported within 24 hours. Weekly updates on Kentucky outbreak are provided below. Hepatitis A news releases can be found at CHFS News.

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Source: https://fox17.com/news/local/ballad-...or-hepatitis-a

Ballad: 3 Indian Path Community Hospital employees test positive for hepatitis A
by WCYB Staff
Thursday, January 3rd 2019

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WCYB) - Ballad Health issued in a statement Thursday afternoon that three employees of Indian Path Community Hospital were infected with the hepatitis A virus.

Ballad said they found that out this week and have been in close contact with the health department and are providing vaccinations for all Indian Path employees.

The healthcare system claimed the risk of transmission is low...
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Source: https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Ce...503854821.html

Central Kentucky counties continue to see upswing in hepatitis A cases
By Lauren Minor |
Posted: Thu 12:09 PM, Jan 03, 2019 |
Updated: Thu 12:23 PM, Jan 03, 2019

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Some central Kentucky counties are continuing to see an upswing in hepatitis A cases
MGN

One of those counties is Fayette County. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says it has seen more than 85 cases in November and December alone, bringing the total to 124...

...The state numbers are showing no signs of slowing down either. There are now more than 3,200 cases as of mid-December. More than 20 have died as a result...

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Source: https://www.wbko.com/content/news/He...503623841.html

Health officials are continuing to warn the public about the state's Hepatitis A outbreak
By Kelly Dean |
Posted: Fri 7:01 PM, Dec 28, 2018

(WBKO) -- Health officials are continuing to warn the public about the state's Hepatitis A outbreak, and how to prevent getting infected.

As of December 15, the Kentucky Department of Public Health reports that there has been 3,265 total outbreaks of Hepatitis A in Kentucky. Over 170 of those cases are in the 13 News viewing area.

1,625 have been hospitalized, and 21 people have died...