Hepatitis A (Hep A) is a virus that spreads easily between people through eating food or touching objects that someone with Hep A has handled, it can also be spread from having sex or sharing needles/pipes with someone who has Hep A. The virus can cause serious liver damage, even failure.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
In some cases, people experience stomach pain, dark pee, pale poop, tiredness, and lack of appetite. Acute illness may last a few weeks or up to a few months.
Outbreak news
Hepatitis A has been spreading among people in Minnesota who are living homeless or injecting drugs. Last year, 46 cases of Hepatitis A were reported in the Metro area.
Since May 2019, Minnesota has seen an increase of hepatitis A cases, which we have now identified as an outbreak. Minnesota’s outbreak-associated cases have risk factors that are consistent with other outbreaks nationwide.
People who are at higher risk in the current outbreak include:
- People who use injection/non-injection drugs.
- People experiencing homelessness or unstable housing.
- People who are currently or were recently incarcerated.
- Men who have sex with men (MSM).
What can I do to help stop this outbreak?
Hep A can be prevented through vaccination and careful hand washing. To get vaccinated, call the Saint Paul – Ramsey County Immunization Clinic and schedule an appointment at 651-266-1234.
Partners
Feel free to share this poster at community sites: Hepatitis A - A Health Warning poster (PDF)
Learn more about Hepatitis A