Health officials confirm 319 cases of hepatitis A during outbreak

September 21, 2017

LANSING, MI (WNEM) – Michigan health officials are continuing to investigate an outbreak of hepatitis A in the southeast part of the state.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reports from Aug. 1, 2016 to Sept. 15, 2017 there have been 319 confirmed cases of hepatitis A, including 14 deaths.

Of those cases, nearly 86 percent have been hospitalized.

Health officials said those infected by the illness have ranged in age from 20 to 87-years-old. Two-thirds of those cases were men, officials said.

On Sept. 18, the state Medicaid program issued a letter to healthcare providers about the outbreak, testing information and how to prevent the illness.

The letter was sent to more than 5,000 Medicaid-enrolled providers in Detroit, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clare and Wayne counties.

“The Southeast Michigan hepatitis A outbreak remains a top priority for public health officials from both the investigation and prevention standpoints,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive for MDHHS.

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Health officials confirm 319 cases of hepatitis A during outbreak

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