Multistate Outbreak of Hepatitis A
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Since March 2018, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health has reported an increase in the number of confirmed cases of acute hepatitis A virus. This increase in cases has primarily been among injection and non-injection drug users, homeless or mobile individuals, and those who have been recently incarcerated. Viral sequencing has linked cases from Kentucky and California.
West Virginia Hepatitis A Outbreak Cases*
as of December 7, 2018** |
Number of Cases |
2018 |
Demographics |
Age Range |
12-86 |
Median Age |
37 |
Male |
1195 (59.2%) |
Hospitalizations |
1035 (51.3%) |
Deaths |
5 |
Risk Factors |
Co-infection with Hepatitis C
(Information available for 1564 cases) |
910 (58.2%) |
Co-infection with Hepatitis B
(Information available for 1564 cases) |
167 (10.7%) |
Reports Illicit Drug Use
(Information available for 1710 cases) |
1251 (73.2%) |
Homeless |
212 (10.5%) |
*: Table does not include all reported hepatitis A cases in the outbreak region; only those cases that are identified as outbreak-related. Data are provisional and subject to change.
**: Updated 12:00 PM each Friday |
Cases Meeting the WV Hepatitis A Outbreak Case Definition |
County*** |
Number of Cases |
Kanawha † |
766 |
Cabell † |
261 |
Wood † |
146 |
Raleigh † |
111 |
Putnam † |
106 |
Boone † |
98 |
Fayette † |
85 |
Logan † |
61 |
Wayne † |
58 |
Jackson † |
41 |
Lincoln † |
41 |
Nicholas † |
40 |
Mason † |
35 |
Harrison † |
29 |
Greenbrier |
21 |
Braxton † |
17 |
Webster |
16 |
Mingo † |
15 |
Roane |
9 |
Berkeley † |
7 |
Clay † |
7 |
Mercer † |
7 |
Ritchie † |
7 |
Calhoun † |
<5 |
Doddridge |
<5 |
Gilmer |
<5 |
Hancock |
<5 |
Marion |
<5 |
Marshall |
<5 |
McDowell |
<5 |
Monongalia |
<5 |
Monroe |
<5 |
Pleasants |
<5 |
Pocahontas |
<5 |
Preston |
<5 |
Randolph |
<5 |
Upshur |
<5 |
Wetzel |
<5 |
Wirt |
<5 |
Wyoming |
<5 |
***: This may not accurately reflect the current residence of the patient. |
†: Laboratory specimens in this county have been genetically linked to the outbreak genotype 1B. |

*Epidemiological data will be updated weekly and posted each Friday.
Information on the multi-state hepatitis A outbreak can be found HERE.
Click HERE to view an informational video on hepatitis A and the outbreak.
VACCINE INFORMATION
RESOURCES FOR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS
RESOURCES FOR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS