KY: 2018/2019 Hepatitis A outbreak

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Source: http://www.wdrb.com/story/37550055/kentucky-officials-say-outbreak-of-hepatitis-a-has-hit-louisville


Kentucky officials say outbreak of Hepatitis A has hit Louisville
Posted: Feb 20, 2018 4:30 PM EST
Updated: Feb 20, 2018 4:30 PM EST
By Travis Kircher

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A rare virus has become an outbreak in Louisville -- and now there's a new effort to stop it from spreading.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health declared an outbreak of acute Hepatitis A in November, with the majority of cases in Louisville. Since then, Louisville has seen nearly 90 cases. In a typical year, there are one to four...

 

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Source: http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/02/23/kentucky-hepatitis-outbreak-continues/


Kentucky hepatitis A outbreak continues
February 23, 2018
WPSD Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY ? A multi-county outbreak of hepatitis A that includes McCracken County is still ongoing, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services says.

The the Kentucky Department for Public Health is now reporting 117 cases of hepatitis A in the state. Most of those cases are in the Jefferson County/Louisville area, but other cases have been found in McCracken County, as well as Boyd, Bullitt, Carter, Hopkins, Leslie, Marion and Taylor counties.

For comparison, the 10-year average number of acute hepatitis A cases has been approximately 20 cases per year in Kentucky.

The health cabinet says lab specimens for some cases in the outbreak have been sent for specialized genetic testing of the hepatitis A virus at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to see if Kentucky?s cases are associated with outbreaks in other states. At this point, the cabinet says, 38 cases from 45 specimens match outbreaks in San Diego, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah...

 

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Source: http://www.wdrb.com/story/37636486/...titis-a-potentially-putting-customers-at-risk

Employee of Louisville Kroger store diagnosed with Hepatitis A, potentially putting customers at risk
Posted: Mar 02, 2018 8:00 PM EST
Updated: Mar 02, 2018 10:38 PM EST

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An employee in the produce department of the Kroger store at 4915 Dixie Highway has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A.

Kroger said the man worked at the store in Pleasure Ridge Park in February, and customers who bought produce between Feb. 4 to Feb. 28 may have been exposed to the virus. Any produce purchased during that time frame should be thrown away, Kroger said.

The employee worked third shift in the produce section and was diagnosed with Hepatitis A on Feb. 28 at a visit to the doctor. He immediately notified his supervisor, and Kroger notified the Health Department later that day, the company said...

 

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Source: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2018/03/05/outbreak-hepatitis-jefferson-county/394645002/


Outbreak: 100-plus cases of hepatitis A confirmed in Jefferson County
Beth Warren, Louisville Courier Journal Published 10:24 a.m. ET March 5, 2018 | Updated 1:57 p.m. ET March 5, 2018

An outbreak of hepatitis A has been confirmed in Jefferson County.

Health officials noted 115 cases from November through Friday, said Dave Langdon, spokesman for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. One of those cases is an employee at a Kroger store on Dixie Highway, which prompted the grocery store chain to issue an alert Friday to shoppers who bought produce there from Feb. 4-28.

There are typically four or fewer cases in an entire year, Langdon said. "We don't know the exact cause."...

 

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Source: http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/article204083929.html


Kentucky Waffle House customers are the latest exposed to Hepatitis A outbreak
By Mike Stunson
March 08, 2018 10:05 AM
Updated 5 hours 58 minutes ago

First Kroger customers, and now Waffle House patrons have been exposed to Hepatitis A during an outbreak in Kentucky.

An employee who worked at two Waffle House restaurants in Boyd County was diagnosed with Hepatitis A, according to the Ashland-Boyd County Health Department.

The window of possible exposure for the worker was Feb. 12 to 28, the health department said. It can take up to 50 days from exposure to the illness for symptoms to develop, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention...

...As of Tuesday, there were 150 cases of Hepatitis A in the state since 2017, and the number of cases were labeled an outbreak in November, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. It said 124 cases were reported in Jefferson County, with additional cases in Anderson, Boyd, Bullitt, Carter, Hopkins, Kenton, Leslie, Marion, McCracken, Russell, Spencer and Taylor counties.

 

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Source: http://www.wymt.com/content/news/Hepatitis-A-confirmed-in-Boyd-County-Jail-476400363.html

Hepatitis A confirmed in Boyd County Jail
By WSAZ News Staff |
Posted: Fri 2:29 PM, Mar 09, 2018 |
Updated: Fri 2:34 PM, Mar 09, 2018

BOYD COUNTY, Ky (WSAZ) - Officials in Boyd County confirm an inmate at the Boyd County Detention Center has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A.

Judge Executive Steve Towler told WSAZ on Friday that an inmate was recently diagnosed with the highly contagious virus that can lead to liver infection.

Officials are not sure when exactly the inmate was diagnosed...

 

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Source: http://wfpl.org/louisville-hepatitis-a-outbreak-what-to-know/

Here?s What You Should Know About Louisville?s Hepatitis A Outbreak
By Lisa Gillespie
March 13, 2018

Kentucky typically sees about 20 cases a year of hepatitis A. But so far this year, 132 cases have been reported in the Louisville area alone, according to the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness. Four new cases were reported over the weekend, and one person has died from the disease.

And Louisville is part of a bigger trend of outbreaks of hepatitis A across the country, including in Michigan, California and Utah. Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness Medical Director Lori Caloia said the hepatitis A virus found in Louisville is a close match to cases in California.

?There?s many theories behind how that may have happened, whether it was a person traveling here, a homeless person who migrated to this area,? Caloia said. ?But we don?t know.?...

 

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Source: https://www.courier-journal.com/sto...epatitis-vaccines-jefferson-county/520883002/

With 214 confirmed cases of hepatitis A in Louisville, officials recommend vaccines
Thomas Novelly, Louisville Courier Journal Published 3:34 p.m. ET April 16, 2018 | Updated 3:37 p.m. ET April 16, 2018

Amid a hepatitis A outbreak, the Department of Public Health is recommending vaccinations in Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Greenup, Carter and Boyd counties.

There have been approximately 311 cases of hepatitis A throughout the state relating to the outbreak, a significant increase in a state that typically sees about 20 cases per year. 214 of them are from Jefferson County.

"DPH recommends all children, ages 1 year through 18, receive the hepatitis A vaccine as well as adults who want to protect themselves from an acute hepatitis A infection,? Jeffrey Howard, acting DPH commissioner, said in a statement. ?In these counties with local transmission of the hepatitis A virus, we recommend everyone be vaccinated per guidelines to help stop this outbreak.?...

 

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Source: http://www.wdrb.com/story/38000041/hepatitis-a-outbreak-spreads-south-to-hardin-county

Hepatitis A outbreak spreads south into Hardin County
Posted: Apr 19, 2018 9:16 PM EDT
Updated: Apr 19, 2018 9:37 PM EDT
By Chris Sutter

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- The hepatitis A virus is waging war on both sides of the Ohio River, and it's now spreading to the south.

Hardin County is now the latest community grappling with how to deal with it.

Sara Jo Best, director of the Lincoln Trail District Health Department, said two new cases of virus were identified Thursday.

"We've investigated 20 cases of hepatitis A in Hardin County, nine of which are residents of Hardin County," Best said.

None are in the food service industry there. Drug users and the homeless contract the virus easiest, but Best said 30 percent of cases don't include either group of people...

 

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Source: http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/3-deaths-blamed-on-hepatitis-A-outbreak-in-Ky-480395403.html


3 deaths blamed on hepatitis A outbreak in Ky.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WSAZ) -- UPDATE 4/20/18 @ 10 p.m.
Three people are confirmed dead from Hepatitis A in Kentucky according to health officials.

Here's a county breakout of Hepatitis A cases in our region: Greenup has 16, Carter has 6, and Boyd has 31.

Those three counties are among six in Kentucky where the State Department for Public Health is recommending vaccines for all residents.

In West Virginia, there are now 31 confirmed cases of Hepatitis A in Kanawha and Putnam counties according to health officials there.

The rise in cases has many scrambling to get the vaccine.

Multiple pharmacies in eastern Kentucky Friday were out of the vaccine because of the high demand...

 

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Source: http://www.wave3.com/story/38032432...p-a-outbreak-grows-to-281-cases-in-louisville



White Castle employee diagnosed with hep A; outbreak grows to 281 cases in Louisville
Tuesday, April 24th 2018, 5:24 pm EDT
By Laurel Mallory, Digital Content Producer

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Louisville Metro Government alerted the public about a White Castle employee who was diagnosed with hepatitis A.

The White Castle where the person worked is at 3701 Seventh St. Rd.

Customers who ate at this White Castle from April 6 to April 20 could have been exposed to the hep A virus...

 

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Source: https://www.grantky.com/content/two-confirmed-hepatitis-cases-jail


Two confirmed Hepatitis A cases at jail
By Amanda Kelly, Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 10:31 am


Two cases of Hepatitis A at the Grant County Detention Center have been confirmed by Jailer Chris Hankins on May 22.

Hankins said 84 inmates, plus jail staff, have had ?direct contact? with the two inmates with Hepatitis A, potentially exposing them to the virus.

Hankins said one inmate who was transported to the jail already had Hepatitis A, but another inmate started to show symptoms last week and was taken to the hospital May 18. Blood tests confirmed the second inmate had Hepatitis A on May 21, Hankins said.

Hankins said they believe the second inmate contracted Hepatitis A before being booked at the jail May 10, but they?re not completely sure how the cases were contracted or exactly where they came from...

 

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Source: http://www.wymt.com/content/news/7t...nty-diagnosed-with-hepatitis-A-483605731.html

7th food worker in Boyd County diagnosed with hepatitis A
By WYMT News Staff |
Posted: Thu 12:41 PM, May 24, 2018

ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Another food service worker in Boyd County, Kentucky has been diagnosed with hepatitis A.

Officials with the Ashland-Boyd County Health Department say an employee at the McDonald's in the 2000 block of Winchester Ave. in Ashland was diagnosed Wednesday.

This is the seventh food worker to be diagnosed with hepatitis A in Boyd County this year.

Health officials say the risk of customers becoming infected is very low...

 

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Source: http://www.lex18.com/story/38291059/hepatitis-a-confirmed-in-carter-county-fast-food-worker

Hepatitis A Confirmed In Carter County Fast Food Worker
Posted: May 28, 2018 12:14 PM EDT
Updated: May 28, 2018 12:31 PM EDT


CARTER COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) - Another case of hepatitis A has been diagnosed in a fast food worker in Carter County.

According to WSAZ, the NBC affiliate in Huntington, the case was diagnosed at the McDonald's in Grayson, Ky...

 

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Source: http://www.wymt.com/content/news/8t...er-diagnosed-with-Hepatitis-A--484036891.html

8th Boyd County food worker diagnosed with Hepatitis A

ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Another case of hepatitis A has been confirmed in a food service worker in Boyd County, the Ashland-Boyd County Health Department says.

The latest case at O?Charley?s, located at 461 River Hill Drive, marks the eighth food service worker to be diagnosed with hepatitis A in Boyd County...

 

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Source: https://insiderlouisville.com/health/hepatitis-a-outbreak-continues-to-grip-louisville/

Hepatitis A outbreak continues to grip Louisville
By Darla Carter | June 13, 2018 4:02 pm

Louisville?s hepatitis A outbreak has now topped 450 cases and claimed three lives, according to local health officials.

An employee of the Jimmy John?s restaurant at 332 W. Broadway is among the latest food service workers to be diagnosed with hepatitis A.

People who ate at that Jimmy John?s from May 31 to June 6 may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus and should be on the lookout for symptoms such as fatigue and stomach pain, according to the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness...

 

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Source: http://www.lex18.com/story/38469794/kentucky-up-to-832-outbreak-associated-acute-hepatitis-a-cases


Kentucky Up To 832 Outbreak-Associated Acute Hepatitis A Cases
Posted: Jun 20, 2018 2:49 PM EDT

(LEX 18) The Kentucky Department for Public Health has announced that Kentucky now has 832 cases of hepatitis A and six deaths related to the outbreak.

A total of 52 Kentucky counties have reported outbreak-associated cases, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health...

 

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Source: https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/2018/07/12/kentucky-exceeds-1000-hepatitis-a-cases/

Kentucky exceeds 1,000 hepatitis A cases
July 12, 2018
Chris Yu

PADUCAH ? Kentucky now has more than 1,000 reported cases of hepatitis A, the most of any state in the country.

?We average 20 per year. There?s [now] 1,020 cases in almost eight months,? said Dr. Jeffrey Howard, the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Public Health...

 

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Source: http://www.kentuckynewera.com/news/ap/article_3ee985c6-89db-11e8-9e22-77004cc233b8.html

Four cases of hepatitis A reported
By Renee Beasley Jones The Messenger-Inquirer Jul 17, 2018 Updated 45 min ago

Kentucky's hepatitis A outbreak continues to spread.

Eighteen more counties developed cases during the week that ended on July 7. Since Aug. 1, 2017, nearly 1,100 cases have been reported to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

"The increase in cases observed in Kentucky was well over the 10-year average of reported hepatitis A cases," according to the KDPH website.

State health officials report 65 counties now have cases, and eight people in the commonwealth have died as a result of contracting hep A...

 

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Source: http://www.lex18.com/story/38684004/state-louisville-officials-report-on-hepatitis-a-outbreak [h=3]State, Louisville Officials Report On Hepatitis A Outbreak[/h] Posted: Jul 19, 2018 11:31 AM EDT Updated: Jul 19, 2018 11:31 AM EDT


LOUISVILLE, Ky. ? Kentucky?s current hepatitis A outbreak is now the largest outbreak in the United States and the biggest ever recorded in both the state and Louisville.
As of July 7, the outbreak had struck 65 Kentucky counties with 1,094 hepatitis A cases and eight deaths.
As of July 17, Louisville had 540 cases with four of the state?s eight deaths. While the outbreak continues to grow and spread throughout the state, there is evidence that it may be declining in Louisville.
On Thursday, state and local officials urged everyone in Louisville and in any county in Kentucky that is part of the current hepatitis A outbreak to get immunized. They also reminded everyone to practice good hand hygiene, particularly after using the restroom and before eating or preparing food.
New hepatitis cases per day have been trending downward in Louisville since April with 4.1 in April, 3.8 in May, 2.5 in June, and so far, 1.67 in July. ?...