Hepatitis A spreading in Gordon

The Health Department is offering free vaccinations.

Public health officials have confirmed 18 cases of hepatitis A among Gordon County residents since June 2018 and are urging vaccination against the highly contagious liver infection for people most at risk of the vaccine-preventable disease, especially illicit (injection and non-injection) drug users, individuals who have recently been in jail or prison and their close contacts.

Officials are also encouraging all persons who work in food-service establishments, such as restaurants and cafeterias, to be vaccinated.

The Gordon County Health Department, 310 N. River Street, Calhoun, is offering free hepatitis A vaccinations during regular business hours. No appointment is needed.

The 18 hepatitis A cases have been confirmed in Gordon County residents since a serious uptick in Georgia hepatitis A cases began last June. According to the CDC, Georgia is one of 18 states experiencing an outbreak of the highly contagious liver infection.

Since June 2018, 471 cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed statewide. Of these, 204 cases, 43% of the state total, have been in the tencounty Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District, which includes Gordon County. The health district normally confirms, on average, one case per year.

“Hepatitis A is spreading among Gordon County residents,” said Dr. Zachary Taylor, interim health director for the Northwest Health District, “and we want to stop it here before it gets to the level we’ve seen in other Northwest Georgia counties. The best protection against hepatitis A is vaccination.”

Those most at risk of hepatitis A include:

Illicit (injection and non-injection) drug users;