United States: Hepatitis A outbreak declarations appear from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health following case increases throughout the previous year.
Cases Tripled in One Year
Public health statistics show hepatitis A cases increased threefold between 2023 and 2024, when the county reported 165 cases.
A total of twenty-nine new cases have been documented since the start of this year’s outbreak.
How does Hepatitis A spread?
The infection that causes Hepatitis A lives within the stools of sick individuals and spreads by means of consuming contaminated food products.
Public health officials state hepatitis A transmission occurs through direct person-to-person contact as well as contaminated food and drink.
Hepatitis A outbreak declared in LA County.
— Noha Aboelata, MD (@NohaAboelataMD) May 6, 2025
"…this year, most infections have been reported among people who aren’t homeless, and who haven’t recently traveled or used illicit drugs…"
Most fully recover from Hep A, but 7 deaths have been linked to this outbreak so far. pic.twitter.com/NGJAk8UfPO
High Risk Among Unhoused Communities
The transmission routes of hepatitis A make the disease particularly widespread among unhoused individuals who lack basic sanitation services, including handwashing facilities and restroom access, as ktla.com reported.
Reason for the outbreak
The officials lack clarity about what causes this outbreak. Several leading hypotheses exist about this outbreak.
The typical settings for hepatitis A outbreak transmission include homeless communities, along with drug-using populations and recently returned international travelers.
Due to discrepancies in the population data collection, the current numbers reveal an outbreak situation while showing unusually high statistics for this period.
Vaccination Gaps May Be Driving Vulnerability
Therefore, health officials continue to assert it is an outbreak situation. The widespread vaccination program in LA County since 1999 likely explains the current hepatitis A outbreak because it resulted in many adults missing their opportunity for protection against the virus.
Public Health has declared a hepatitis A outbreak in LA County. The risk to the general public remains low, but we must focus on community-wide protection to stop this preventable disease. Vaccination and good hygiene are the best ways to prevent hepatitis A. Swipe to learn more pic.twitter.com/dQLa8cqq44
— LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) May 5, 2025
According to Dr. Sharon Balter, director of the county public health department’s division of communicable disease control and prevention, “ This does mean that there’s a large cohort of adults who may not have been vaccinated because they were born afterwards,” laist.com reported.
“We didn’t do a catch-up vaccine, and then some people may not have received the vaccine when they were younger,” Balter added.
According to public health recommendations, citizens should wash their hands regularly and confirm their hepatitis A vaccination status.
“The ongoing increase in hepatitis A cases signals that quick action is needed to protect public health,” as per Dr. Muntu Davis, who is a Los Angeles County health officer.
“The hepatitis A vaccine is safe, effective, and offers long-term protection. Getting vaccinated is simple, and it’s one of the most important things you can do for your own health and the health of our entire community. It is also important for residents to wash their hands with soap and water regularly, and especially before eating and preparing food and after using the bathroom,” Davis added.