Hepatitis A Outbreak Declared With 1 Case In Snohomish County

SEATTLE, WA — Washington is in the midst of a hepatitis A outbreak with 13 cases confirmed in King, Snohomish, Spokane, and Pend Oreille counties, the state department of health said on Tuesday.

Washington's outbreak coincides with a national rise in hepatitis A cases. The disease is primarily hitting the homeless community and intravenous drug users, state officials said.

"Hepatitis A is a very contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. It can range from a mild infection with no symptoms lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months that can result in liver failure and death," the state said in a press release.

Spokane County has the highest number of cases with nine. There are two cases in King County, and one each in Snohomish and Pend Oreille counties. Since 2016, almost 23,000 hepatitis A cases have been detected across 25 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Over 200 people have died.

Hepatitis A spreads when people come into contact with infected stool, which means the disease can be acquired through food and drinks, as well as person-to-person contact. The hepatitis A vaccine is the most effective way to prevent infection, according to the CDC.