Hep A Banner (webpage) (1040 × 200 px) - 1

This webpage is no longer current and is for historical purposes only.

See www.sandiegocounty.gov/HepA for up-to-date information.

2023 Hepatitis A Local Situation

Last updated 01/03/2024.

See below, or click the following links to learn more about:

Updates

On February 10, 2023, the County of San Diego issued a Health Advisory regarding an increase in hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections. The current increase in cases, in persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) and intravenous drug-using populations, is consistent with person-to-person transmission. Cases are not associated with a food source. While no outbreak has been identified in a single location, cases are above the baseline. The County is actively taking and expanding steps to prevent further spread of the disease.

For more information, visit www.sandiegocounty.gov/hepa. 

Response Efforts

Public Health Services planned and coordinated with local cities and organizations providing services to the focused populations, in early February, after reaching three cases and one death in the PEH population.

Response efforts include: 

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Surveillance

  • Conducting enhanced surveillance, case investigations, and testing.
  • Conducting regular data analysis and reporting of cases and vaccines administered. 
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Vaccination

  • Have administered more than 4,500 vaccinations have been administered to those considered most at-risk from the disease. PEH are more vulnerable to getting sick from the virus because of its ability to spread in areas without convenient access to bathrooms and handwashing.
  • Deployed outreach worker foot teams daily to provide vaccinations, information, and hygiene kits.
  • Partnered with County foot teams and vaccination contractor (Champions for Health), to administer 186 vaccination events, since February 2023. These efforts will continue.
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Education

  • Develop and disseminate information to County and community partners (such as homelessness and behavioral health service providers), general public, and specified priority populations to increase awareness about the local situation, symptoms, transmission, risk reduction, vaccination, treatment options, and County response.
  • Provide up-to-date information on the County’s Hepatitis A website and through the County News Center. 
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Sanitation

  • Conducted a meeting with all countywide municipalities, in April 2023, to discuss sanitation survey and respective plans to deploy portable restrooms and handwashing stations. Also, cities were asked to identify encampments, provide housing, and conduct appropriate street sanitation measures.
  • Worked with Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) to engage local restaurants and businesses.