The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:48 PM
Three Dead In Hepatitis A Outbreak Across Kentucky
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services would not reveal which counties the deaths occurred because of privacy reasons, but it does say the most affected areas are in the Louisville metropolitan area and northeastern Kentucky. The cabinet previously reported the first hepatitis A-related death in Louisville.
According to the CDC, the disease is usually transmitted through ingestion of fecal matter or by consuming contaminated food or water. Health experts say signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A include jaundice, dark-colored urine, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and fever.
Officials say there have been 352 outbreak-associated cases through Apr. 14 with 246 hospitalizations and three deaths.
Experts are recommending people in Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Greenup, Carter and Boyd counties to get vaccinated.
State leaders are assuring potential visitors that it is safe to travel to Kentucky, including for the Kentucky Derby. Indiana issued a warning to potential Kentucky visitors about the hepatitis A outbreak, asking Hoosiers to be vaccinated.
