Since January 2017, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Utah and West Virginia have reported a total of more than 2,500 infections.
The outbreak is the largest since the agency recommended vaccinations for at-risk populations in 1996. It is also the first large outbreak among homeless Americans, the CDC stated.
The CDC is advising healthcare providers to consider hepatitis A in any patients with jaundice and clinically compatible symptoms. The agency also encourages vaccination for at-risk populations as soon as possible, within two weeks of exposure to the virus. All diagnosed hepatitis A cases should be reported to the public health department.
The CDC is continuing to monitor demand for the adult hepatitis A vaccine, which faced some supply constraints but is now more available.
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