San Diego Declares End to Hepatitis A Emergency

San Diego's public health emergency for Hepatitis A has ended after no new cases of the liver-damaging virus were reported in the past month and no deaths since October. Officials made the decision Tuesday but vowed to continue efforts to keep the illness under control.

On Sept. 1, authorities declared the emergency to fight the worst epidemic of its kind in 20 years in the U.S. It killed 20 people and sickened 577 people between November 2016 and October 2017. Officials vaccinated more than 100,000 people, installed scores of hand-washing stations and cleaned streets with a bleach solution to contain the virus that lives in feces. 

Three giant tents opened to temporarily house hundreds of homeless people, the most affected population.The outbreak spread to at least three other states.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


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