Kentucky’s Hepatitis A outbreak, while waning in the Louisville metro area, continues to grow in other parts of the state, including Grayson County.
According to Grayson County Health Department Director Mindy Renfrow, Grayson County now has 14 confirmed cases of the highly contagious liver disease, up from six confirmed cases as of August 1.
Renfrow said the “majority” of Hep A cases in the county are the result of IV drug use. One case of Hep A was blamed on the victim drinking contaminated ground water.
None of the 14 cases involve workers in the food service industry.
In mid-August, health officials in Northern Kentucky declared outbreak status, as 56 cases of Hep A have been reported in the region, including a food service worker at a popular Newport restaurant/entertainment complex, Newport Syndicate.
Conversely, Louisville health officials, who reported an average of 4.1 cases per day in April, have recently seen that number drop to 1.7 new Hep A cases per day in July. Health officials credit thousands of people being vaccinated against the disease as the primary reason for the drop in cases.
In total, over 1,300 people have been infected in Kentucky since the outbreak began in fall 2017. Eight deaths are blamed on the disease and over 700 victims have been hospitalized.
The Centers for Disease Control previously said that 75 percent of the cases in Kentucky were related to IV drug use, while about 16 percent of victims have homelessness as a risk factor. Experts, though, said most of the homeless who have the disease were also at risk because of intravenous drug use.
Other than sharing dirty needles, Hepatitis A is transmitted by oral contact with fecal matter. The disease attacks the liver and causes symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and jaundice. Thorough hand washing and vaccination against the disease are key factors in limiting the spread of Hep A.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
