Hepatitis A outbreak declared in Georgia, one concentration in Atlanta
Georgia is experiencing a hepatitis A outbreak, the state Department of Public Health said.
Since January, 214 cases of hepatitis A have been identified statewide. The uptick started last June, and there have been 281 cases in the state since then. In 2017, only 24 cases were reported; there were 37 in 2016.
One of the hot spots is in metro Atlanta, where 34 cases have been reported, including 19 in Fulton County. Others include the Augusta area and the northwest corner of the state, including Ringgold and Dalton, areas that are considered part of suburban Chattanooga.
The outbreak is concentrated among three groups of people: drug users, people who are homeless and men who have sex with men. David Holland, the chief clinical officer for medical and preventive services at the Fulton County Board of Health, said the outbreak is not a threat to general public health, but is dangerous for those groups.
Read more: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/hepatitis-outbreak-declared-georgia-one-concentration-atlanta/tmz63U0fgVRrVuXO6SjiGM/
