The TriCounty Health Department is providing the community with information on Hepatitis A and how to prevent exposure and infection. While the state health department has announced that there is an outbreak in the state, TriCounty Health Director Jordan Mathis says there are no confirmed cases in the TriCounty Health District at this time. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection of the Hep A virus. The Utah Department of Health reports that between May 1st and November 27th, 87 outbreak-associated cases of Hepatitis A have been identified mostly along the Wasatch Front and are connected to illicit drug use and/or those experiencing homelessness but it has still been warned that there is no guarantee it won’t spread beyond that. Mathis says the best form of prevention is getting vaccinated. The vaccine is especially recommended for children and people with extra risk factors or medical conditions. It is also recommended for residents traveling to international countries. The vaccine is administered in two shots, six months apart and both are needed to have long term protection. For more information on Hepatitis A and how to keep your family safe, visit
www.tricountyhealth.com
.
