Information on Hepatitis A Outbreak
Important Notice:
Since the outbreak began, the Detroit Health Department has facilitated dozens of community outreach clinics, provided over 7,319 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.
Food Handlers Vaccination Clinic Program
The Detroit Health Department recommends all food establishments get their employees vaccinated.
To support this effort, the Detroit Health Department is launching a mobile vaccination clinic program to provide easy and convenient access for Detroit food establishments to vaccinate their employees.
The Department will set up clinics throughout the City of Detroit, where clusters of restaurants are located.
Restaurants can call the Detroit Health Department at 313-876-0135 to arrange for vaccination.
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.
WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET VACCINATED
The Detroit Health Department’s Communicable Disease Program actively investigates any cases of Hepatitis A in Detroit residents.
The Detroit Health Department offers Hepatitis A vaccines at its Immunization Clinic on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8am to 5pm, Wednesday 9am to 6pm, and Saturday 10am to 4pm. The clinic is located at:
The Samaritan Center (5555 Conner Street Detroit, MI 48213)
The Detroit Health Department’s Communicable Disease Program can be reached at 313-876-4000.
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PRESS RELEASE - http://www.michigan.gov/minewswire/0,4629,7-136-3452-447748--,00.html