Experts Say Officials Need To Be Thinking Beyond Homeless Population With Hep A Outbreak
Preventive efforts should not just be aimed at population that is being affected at the moment, but should also try to anticipate where the outbreak is headed.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Are Gay Men In The Crosshairs Of San Diego's Hepatitis Outbreak?
Hepatitis A outbreaks underway among gay men in many different cities show that it is not just homeless people and drug users who face significant risk from the disease, the physician said. ...Given that recent epidemiological evidence shows that gay men are at a higher risk of hepatitis A infection than the general population, it would not be an unreasonable approach to double down on education and vaccination efforts in this demographic group, [Dr. Robert] Schooley said. (Sisson, 9/29)
Los Angeles Times:
Burbank And Glendale Work To Get Ahead Of Countywide Hepatitis A Outbreak
With health officials declaring a hepatitis A outbreak in Los Angeles County last week, the cities of Burbank and Glendale have been working on protecting their homeless populations from the virus. Both cities have started reaching out to the homeless in order to get them screened and vaccinated against hepatitis A. The L.A. County Department of Public Health has said homeless people are most at risk for the infection. (Nguyen, 9/29)
KPBS:
Homeless Choir Sings In Solidarity With Hepatitis A Victims
The Voices of Our City Choir, which is mostly made up of homeless San Diegans, met at the Civic Concourse outside City Hall for nearly an hour dedicating their weekly, open community choir practice to those who have died in the outbreak. So far, 461 people are infected and 17 have died. (Gonzalez, 9/29)