Author Topic: California Hepatitis A Outbreak Is Now On The Verge of A Statewide Epidemic  (Read 1332 times)

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Offline HAPPY2BME

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08 Oct, 2017 by Sonja Bochow

California Hepatitis A Outbreak Is Now On The Verge of A Statewide Epidemic



In California, a Hepatitis A outbreak of nearly epidemic proportions is infecting, and threatening to infect, huge numbers of homeless people living in makeshift tent cities located from San Diego, all the way north to Sacramento. The contagious disease, characterized by jaundice and flu-like symptoms, can lead to death in some cases. 17 have died and 569 people have been infected in the 11 months since the outbreak began in San Diego last November. Major cities up and down the state have been affected.

Cities all over the state are scrambling to contain the outbreak by disinfecting streets, and trying to get homeless populations to be vaccinated. But many homeless are trying not to be found, due to trouble with the law or other reasons, and resist getting the shots. The problem is particularly complex.


http://rightwingnews.com/top-news/california-hepatitis-outbreak-now-verge-statewide-epidemic/

Offline HAPPY2BME

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California has over an estimated 115,000 homeless people. And laws have been passed in multiple locales that prohibit law enforcement from enforcing housing ordinances, allowing the tent cities to grow uninhibited.

Although no one knows the exact reason for the outbreak, it is thought that it may have started when San Diego made an effort to clean up the area around Petco Park for the MLB All-Star Game. The city caused the homeless, the prostitution trade and the drug dealers to move to areas away from the downtown tourist venues. In an effort to bring that about, the city locked public restrooms. Additionally, San Diego banned the use of plastic bags, which have long been used by the homeless to dispose of human waste when there are no public bathrooms. It is thought that this set of circumstances has contributed heavily to the Hepatitis A outbreak.

Dr. Monique Foster, who is an epidemiologist with the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the outbreak will likely continue, even with efforts to contain it, “It’s not unusual for them to last quite some time — usually over a year, one to two years.”

Californians, this is your tax dollars at work


Offline HAPPY2BME

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At least 481 people have been infected and 17 have died of the infection since November in San Diego.

Eight-eight other cases have been identified in Santa Cruz and Los Angeles counties, where hepatitis A outbreaks have been declared.

In San Diego, where nearly 85 percent of all confirmed cases are located, cleaning crews are hitting the streets, attacking them with high-pressure water mixed with bleach to sanitize any surfaces contaminated with feces, blood or other body fluids.

County health officials have been hesitant to release any additional information about where the cases are specifically concentrated, citing state and federal health privacy laws.

http://www.readingeagle.com/ap/article/san-diegos-hepatitis-a-outbreak-is-among-nations-worst-in-decades