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N.H. Health Officials Say Hepatitis A Outbreak is Accelerating

Department of Health and Human Services

New Hampshire health officials are warning that a recent outbreak of hepatitis A in the state is accelerating.

The Department of Health and Human Services first announced the outbreak in February, when 13 people had been infected since last November.

Now, DHHS says that number has jumped to 79, including one person who has died. The average number of cases over an entire year in New Hampshire is seven.

Officials say the majority of the cases diagnosed since November have been in Hillsborough and Strafford counties.

Hepatitis A is transmitted by ingesting small undetected amounts of stool from someone who is infected.

State health officials are recommending that people who are at high-risk for hepatitis A get vaccinated.

At-risk populations include people experiencing homelessness, people using recreational drugs, men who have sex with other men, and people who have close contact with someone who is infected.

New Hampshire is one of 18 states that have declared an outbreak of hepatitis A.

More resources: CDC website on hepatitis A outbreaks nationwide

Jason Moon is a senior reporter and producer on the Document team. He has created longform narrative podcast series on topics ranging from unsolved murders, to presidential elections, to secret lists of police officers.
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