According to a news release from the Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) Hepatitis A is spreading across Georgia.

The release contained the following information. All quotes are taken verbatim from the press release.

Hepatitis A – What You Need to Know

Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is urging the community to get vaccinated against hepatitis A as the infection continues to spread across the state of Georgia.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has identified more than 450 cases of the extremely contagious virus since June 2018, and approximately 70% of these cases have been hospitalized. It has also been reported that more than half of the infections have been mainly located in north and northwest Georgia.

Who is at Risk:

People at most risk are contacts to a confirmed hepatitis A case, injection and non-injection drug users, homeless populations, men who have sex with other men, those recently incarcerated and those with chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver.

Hepatitis A Symptoms:

Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, yellow skin or eyes, dark urine and clay-colored stool. The infection can range from a mild illness lasting several weeks to a severe illness lasting a few months and can even cause death in some cases.

“CDPH wants everyone to know that the hepatitis A virus and resulting infection are preventable through vaccination, said Rachel Franklin, CDPH’s Director of Epidemiology and Health Assessment. “If you are at risk, get vaccinated!”

Where to get vaccinated:

CDPH offers hepatitis A vaccines at several health centers located in Cobb & Douglas Counties and walk-ins are welcome. For more details, call 770-514-2300 or visit cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org. For more information on the current outbreak, visit https://dph.georgia.gov/hepatitis.

About Cobb & Douglas Public Health

According to the CDPH news release,

Cobb & Douglas Public Health, along with the Georgia Department of Public Health, has been committed to the mission of “Healthier Lives. Healthier Community.” since 1920. We are dedicated to improving our residents’ quality of life by tracking and preventing the spread of disease, promoting health and safety, providing exceptional medical services, and ensuring that our community is prepared for public health emergencies.