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You might be at risk in Vermont's recent hepatitis A outbreak

Ezra Nugiel
for the Free Press

Did you hear Vermont Department of Health's recent warning? There is a statewide outbreak of hepatitis A.

Over the last five years, there was an average of three cases of hepatitis A per year in Vermont. In 2019, that number rose to 12.

"That's clearly four times the amount we would expect to see, so it deserves the label outbreak," said Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD in an interview on Vermont Public Radio.

He also said that most cases were from the southern part of the state. Vermont joins 30 other states including New Hampshire, Massachusetts that have seen upticks in the number of reported cases of hepatitis A.

How serious is hepatitis A? Should I worry about B and C, too?

“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are liver infections caused by three different viruses. Although each can cause similar symptoms, they have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver differently. Hepatitis A is usually a short-term infection and does not become chronic. 

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus. Most people who get hepatitis A feel sick for several weeks, but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death. This is more common among individuals over 50 and in those with other liver diseases.

The virus 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 contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for an infected person.

In the United States, chlorination of water kills hepatitis A virus that enters the water supply. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) routinely monitors for fecal contamination of natural bodies of water used for recreation, so no need to monitor for the hepatitis A virus specifically.

Am I at high risk for infection?

The majority of cases in Vermont and nationally are those who:

  • Have a history of drug use.
  • Are experiencing unstable housing or homelessness.
  • Are currently or recently incarcerated.
  • Have chronic liver disease including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C.
  • Men who have sex with men.

What can I do to stay safe from infection?

The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated. In addition, because the virus is generally spread by person-to-person contact, thorough sanitary practices, and access to hand washing stations are important to help prevent it from spreading.

The Health Department offers free hepatitis A vaccine clinics in places that serve high-risk individuals, such as shelters, syringe services programs, and meal sites. All Vermont correctional facilities also are also equipped with clinics.

Vermonters without health insurance can contact their Local Health Office for information about free vaccine clinics.

What do I do if I think I have been exposed to hepatitis A?

A health professional and your local or state health department can decide what is best based on your age and overall health. Within the first two weeks after exposure to hepatitis A virus, you might benefit from an injection of either hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin if you have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A.

How common is hepatitis A in the United States?

In 2017, there were an estimated 6,700 hepatitis A cases in the United States. Outbreaks of hepatitis A are occurring across the United States; since first identified in 2016, there have been more than 25,000 cases reported.

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