Hepatitis

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis A virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter — even in microscopic amounts — from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces, or stool, of an infected person.

Southeast Michigan has seen an increase in Hepatitis A cases since 2016. High risk individuals identified in association with this outbreak include persons who: share injection and non-injection street drugs (including pain killers), have sexual activities with someone who has hepatitis A, have close contact, care for, or live with someone who has Hepatitis A, are homeless or have transient living situations, or are men who have sex with men.

Important Notice:


Since the outbreak began, the Detroit Health Department has facilitated dozens of community outreach clinics, provided over 6,700 vaccinations to those who could have been exposed, and is proactively educating medical clinics, hospitals and food establishments about the status of the current Hepatitis A Outbreak and the importance of prevention through vaccination and proper sanitizing protocols.