May 4, 2018

Southern Indiana Officials Fight Hepatitis A Outbreak

stock photo

stock photo

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Health officials in southern Indiana are working to increase the availability of vaccinations following a hepatitis A outbreak.

The News and Tribune reports that Floyd and Clark counties have each had about 30 confirmed cases of the virus since February. Cases include restaurant employees, but officials say the virus is now contained to household contact with those infected.

Officials in both counties are working to vaccinate more people, with a focus on high-risk populations such as homeless people and jail inmates.

The Clark County Health Department can only offer vaccinations to the uninsured and high-risk populations because of a limited supply. Officials are working to expand the program to allow for more widespread vaccinations.

Floyd County offers vaccinations to insured and uninsured people. The county has provided about 1,600 vaccinations.

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