Reported outbreak of hepatitis throughout the state continues

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio Department of Health has declared an outbreak of hepatitis A throughout the state after seeing an increase in cases related to certain risk factors since the beginning of 2018.

Between January 2018 and February 11, 2019, Ohio recorded 1,657 cases of hepatitis A according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Sixty percent of people infected with the virus in Ohio were hospitalized and five people died.

Sixty-eight of 88 counties in Ohio had confirmed cases of hepatitis A and four of them saw more than 90 cases each.

Franklin County is one of them and counted 223 confirmed cases of hepatitis A on February 11, 2019.

In January 2019, Fuzzy's Taco Shop in the Arena District and in February 2019, Eddy's chicken and waffles in East Livingston both had an employee with hepatitis A.

In both cases, Columbus Public Health urged people in these restaurants to be vaccinated against hepatitis A as soon as possible.

They will give free vaccines against hepatitis A on February 18th from 11am to 3pm.