Colorado reports 52 cases of hepatitis A in an outbreak

DENVER (AP) – Colorado health officials are using it to slow down an epidemic of hepatitis A that would have already resulted in 52 cases of contagious liver infection.

The Denver Post

reports

The Colorado Department of Public Health said Thursday that the epidemic has affected homeless people and substance use problems, as well as people in jail and contacts of people at risk.

According to Nicole Comstock, Deputy Director of the State Communicable Diseases Department, people affected by this epidemic may have less access to health care and greater health risks.

According to Comstock, over the last decade or so, Colorado has recorded an average of 24 cases of hepatitis A a year, which means that the 52 cases registered since October "outnumber what we expected."