1 person died in an outbreak of acute hepatitis A, which causes dozens of deaths.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said on Monday that 65 people had hepatitis A in the country as a whole and one person died after contracting the viral infection.

The health department says that most people who have the disease – which affects the liver and can cause serious illness – are homeless, addicted, or both. It encourages local health services to provide services and information to people who may be affected, especially those who inject drugs.

Of the 65 cases, the department said in a statement that "45% of the population is located in Boston, and a growing number in other cities, including the Southeast and Boston metro areas."

In addition, most people with hepatitis A also have symptoms of hepatitis C, a blood-borne infection that is often linked to injection drug use. The combination makes their illness worse, the department said.

"We have seen an upsurge in cases of hepatitis A, with epidemics reported in at least 10 other states in similar populations, constituting thousands of cases nationwide," said the public health commissioner , Monica Bharel. "As part of our state-wide response here in Massachusetts, we are turning to all local health departments to encourage and support their efforts to provide education and vaccines to people at home. risk.

Hepatitis A is spread mainly through fecal-oral contact. Its symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and jaundice. A vaccine, which the department also intends to administer to people at risk in the state, can prevent this. Handwashing also helps prevent illness.