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Hepatitis A threat growing in Michigan

From August 2016 through March 21 of this year, Michigan has recorded 789 cases of hepatitis A, with 25 deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

That is considered to be the highest number of hepatitis deaths in the nation.

And those statistics don’t include all reported cases, either, just those “identified as outbreak-related,” according to the MDHHS.

Most of these hepatitis cases have been in lower Michigan. But that doesn’t mean the Upper Peninsula can be complacent about this serious health threat.

The MDHHS recently awarded $500,000 to 25 counties to help combat Michigan’s hepatitis A outbreak. In the U.P., that includes: Luce-Mackinac-Alger-Schoolcraft District Health Department, Marquette County Health Department, Chippewa County Health Department, Delta and Menominee Public Health, and Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.

And, closer to home, the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department.

All local health departments received $20,000 each to increase vaccination outreach to high-risk populations.

So, who is most at risk? Those with a history of injection and non-injection drug use, homelessness or transient housing, incarceration and men who have sex with men.

“This has been the largest person-to-person hepatitis A outbreak in Michigan’s history,” said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Increasing vaccination outreach to high-risk populations across the state is essential to stopping the spread of hepatitis A in Michigan.”

The funding is part of a $7.1 million appropriation approved by the Legislature in late 2017 to address the hepatitis A outbreak. It can be used for staffing to conduct educational and vaccination outreach efforts.

Hepatitis A is a serious, highly contagious viral liver disease. HAV is found in the feces of infected people and spread by eating contaminated food or water, during sex or by living with an infected person.

Hepatitis A symptoms can include:

— Nausea and vomiting;

— Belly pain;

— Feeling tired;

— Fever;

— Loss of appetite;

— Yellowing of the skin and eyes;

— Dark urine;

— Pale-colored feces;

— Joint pain.

Getting vaccinated, practicing good hand washing and avoiding sex with infected partners are ways to prevent getting infected. The hepatitis A vaccine is available at local pharmacies, through health care providers and at local health departments.

For more information about hepatitis A, including a calendar of vaccination clinics, go to Michigan.gov/hepatitisAoutbreak.

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