JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — The Jefferson County Health Department is reporting that Ohio has seen a surge of hepatitis A infections.
Local pharmacies like Rite Aid in Steubenville are now offering Hepatitis A vaccines. The liver disease is relatively rare, but health department data shows the reported cases of hepatitis A has already surpassed all of last year’s cases.
“As of this morning, we have more than 80 cases in the state of Ohio,” said Annette Stewart of the Jefferson County Health Department. “All of last year, we had a total 45 for one year’s time. So, that is quite an increase.”
The disease is transmissible through contaminated food and bodily fluids, but not through skin contact. The health department said gay men are particularly at risk.