What is the Hepatitis A Virus ?

●An easily spread virus that causes liver swelling and damage

●People usually start to feel badly 2 to 6 weeks after infection

●Can range in severity

●Some only experience mild illness for several weeks

●Some, especially those with pre-existing liver conditions, can become very sick for many months and may experience liver failure

How do you prevent Hepatitis A?

●The best way to reduce the risk of getting Hepatitis A is to get vaccinated (2 shots, 6 months apart - 1 dose = 95% effective, 2 doses = 99% effective)

●Regular hand washing, particularly after using the bathroom, after changing diapers and before any preparing meals for yourself or others.

●Do not share food, drinks, smokes, toothbrushes or eating utensils

●Do not have sex with someone who has a Hepatitis A infection

Who’s at Highest Risk?

●Homeless persons or those with transient housing

●Persons who use injection and non-injection illegal drugs

●Persons who have close contact, care for, or live with someone with Hepatitis A illness

●Persons who have sex with someone who has Hepatitis A

●Men who have sex with men (MSM)

●Food service establishments that have an employee with Hep A

●People who are incarcerated

Hepatitis A virus often spreads by:

●Eating contaminated food or water,

●Between sexual partners, or

●Through close personal contact while living with an infected person.

On average it takes about a month after you have been exposed to develop symptoms. You are most contagious in the 1-2 weeks before you even develop symptoms and know you are sick

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

●Fever / ●Fatigue
●Loss of appetite
●Nausea or vomiting / ●Dark urine
●Joint pain
●Abdominal pain
●Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes) / ●Grey or pale-colored stools

Outbreak Information

●Primarily in Southeast Michigan – 4 cases in Grand Traverse County, 5 in Northwest Michigan counties

●Higher than usual hospitalization rate with this outbreak

●Public health response has included:

  • increased healthcare awareness efforts,
  • public notification and education, and
  • outreach with vaccination clinics for high-risk populations.

●No common sources of food, beverages, or drugs have been identified as a potential source of infection.

●Transmission appears to be through direct person-to-person spread and illicit drug use.

●Outbreak data can be found at