The statewide Hepatitis A outbreak is showing no signs of slowing down as more cases have been identified and two more deaths have been reported.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health says there are 1,094 cases of Hepatitis A in the state, with eight deaths blamed on the highly contagious liver disease.
In Kentucky, 65 counties (54 percent of the state’s 120 counties) have reported at least one case of Hep A. Eighteen new counties have reported at least one case since the first week of July.
In Grayson County, one more additional case has been recently reported, according to the Kentucky Department of Health, bringing the total to six cases in the county. Grayson County Health Department Mindy Renfrow said at this point, the case is suspected to be Hep A, but not yet confirmed.
Four of the six counties bordering Grayson County have reported Hep A cases: Hardin (18), Ohio (four), Butler (one), Edmonson (one). Hart and Breckinridge Counties have not reported any cases. Nearby Warren County reports 14 Hep A cases.
Jefferson County has the most cases on the state with 525 reported. Other areas seeing a large number of cases include northeast Kentucky counties and Montgomery County, in eastern Kentucky, which have higher incident rates than Jefferson County, according to the Kentucky Department of Public Health.
More than half of all reported hepatitis A cases in the state have led to hospitalizations.
Officials continue to recommend anyone who hasn’t received the Hep A vaccine to receive the inoculation.
Signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A include jaundice, dark-colored urine, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, and fever. The disease can be spread through contact with surfaces, and food or drink contaminated by feces from an infected person. The disease has so far mostly affected intravenous drug users and homeless people, according to health officials.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
