CDC Updates Health Advisory to Stem Hepatitis A Virus Outbreaks

Since 2016, hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreaks have been identified in multiple states across the U.S., affecting >15,000 people and resulting in 8500 hospitalizations and at least 140 deaths. In June 2018, the CDC issued a health advisory highlighting HAV cases among people who use drugs and persons experiencing homelessness. Now, the CDC has updated this health advisory, including new recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

The main updates are:

• Administer HAV vaccine to persons experiencing homelessness. As previously recommended, other groups that should receive the vaccine include: people who use drugs (injection or noninjection); men who have sex with men; people who are, or recently were, incarcerated…