Nashville Hepatitis Outbreak Spreading

NASHVILLE, TN-- Hepatitis A continues to spread in Nashville's on-going outbreak, with now 26 confirmed cases, including the first two among people who are homeless, the health department said, with officials again emphasizing that it's likely to continue for months.

“We are moving forward in our campaign to reach as many as possible among the at-risk population,” said Rachel Franklin, Interim Director of Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness. “The outbreak will likely last for a number of months so we will continue to respond with a long-term vaccination effort to prevent the spread of the virus.”

After confirming the outbreak the health department began offering free vaccinations to illegal drug users, people who are homeless and men who have sex with men, groups that have a higher risk of contracting the liver infection. Free vaccines are available at all three Health Centers - East at 1015 East Trinity Lane, Lentz at 2500 Charlotte Avenue and Woodbine at 224 Oriel Avenue. The immediate priority is the aforementioned at-risk groups and the health department emphasized that all illicit drug users, not just those who use injectable drugs, are at-risk.

Metro Health received an initial shipment of 1,000 doses of the hepatitis A vaccine from the state last month, followed by an additional 750 doses. The health department said the state has more doses available as needed.

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Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice and clay-colored stools. The disease can be severe in some people possibly requiring hospitalization, but most recover completely within a few weeks.
Hepatitis A usually spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. Hepatitis A can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill.

Health officials began offering hepatitis A vaccinations June 9 to inmates and staff alike at Davidson County Sheriff's Office facilities and that effort should be completed by the end of the week, the health department said. Going forward, the vaccine will be offered when a person is booked. In addition, all inmates are now screened for the disease before they are taken to court dates or appointments and those showing signs or symptoms are held in isolation until they are cleared by medical staff.

The health department and homeless commission are working together to vaccinate people who are homeless and will four more clinics county-wide:

• June 27, 9 a.m. to noon: Downtown Library, 615 Church Street
• June 29, 9 to 11 a.m., Caldwell Park, 4905 Edmonson Pike
• July 2, 9 to 11 a.m.: City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, 701 Gallatin Road South
• July 6, 9 a.m to noon: Community Care Fellowship, 511 South at 8th Street

Image via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention