CDC reports widespread person-to-person outbreaks of Hepatitis A

Since the hepatitis A vaccine was first recommended in 1996, the rates of hepatitis A have declined dramatically in the United States. In 2015, there were only 1,390 reported cases of hepatitis A in the nation. However, since the current outbreaks were first identified in late 2016, there have been 25,484 cases reported. The outbreak has high rates of hospitalization (60% and 15,330 sick individuals), and at least 254 deaths have occurred nationwide as a result of these outbreaks. The outbreak is mainly spread through person-to-person contact. Hepatitis A is easily prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. One dose of single-antigen hepatitis A vaccine has been shown to control outbreaks of hepatitis A and provides up to 95% seroprotection in healthy individuals for up to 11 years. @ https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2017March-HepatitisA.htm