Kentucky Ag Connection - Kentucky Hepatitis Outbreak Shouldn't Deter Derby Visitors

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Kentucky Hepatitis Outbreak Shouldn't Deter Derby Visitors
Kentucky Ag Connection - 04/23/2018

Kentucky's acting commissioner of the state's Department for Public Health said a current outbreak in the state should not deter people from attending the upcoming Kentucky Derby. He says the outbreak has not been traced to foodservice workers.

Dr. Jeffrey Howard said in a release over the weekend, "As you probably know, a small number of counties in our state are dealing with a hepatitis A outbreak. At the Department for Public Health we are aggressively responding to the situation. In fact, while working with the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, on this issue, they've called our response the "gold standard."

The CDC, the country's foremost expert body in outbreak response, has not levied any travel restrictions nor made any recommendations for people to get vaccinated prior to traveling to a state with an active hepatitis outbreak, the public health official stressed.

Still, some misleading information has raised concerns about travel to Kentucky and even the Derby.

"Let me say that it IS safe to travel to Kentucky and it IS safe to attend the Kentucky Derby," Howard said.

"The risk of contracting hepatitis A is greatest in those with risk factors for the disease, which in our outbreak include homelessness and drug abuse.

"We have not had any cases associated with contamination from a food worker and the risk of contracting the disease from an infected food worker is very low.

"While there are NO travel restrictions, the CDC does recommend vaccination for children, folks with risk factors, and those living in an outbreak area who wish to be protected. Kentucky's vaccine recommendations are in complete compliance with these CDC recommendations," he added.

Howard said the state and his department will continue to work diligently with federal, regional and local partners to ensure the greatest protection of Kentuckians and visitors to the Commonwealth.

Hepatitis A virus is primarily spread through fecal-oral transmission. The virus can also be spread by sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A. Risk factors for cases reported in the current Kentucky outbreak primarily are homelessness and injection drug use.

Howard said that, as long as unvaccinated people continue to come in contact with contaminated environments or have at-risk activities, the virus will continue to spread.

"We have to increase vaccination rates and adherence to good hand hygiene practices to reduce the spread. The CDC has advised that similar outbreaks usually peak after about 6-8 months. We are not expecting to experience a shorter duration," he said.

Cases associated with the current outbreak, as last reported by the state, total 352. Of these, three deaths have been reported and 246 people have been hospitalized.

DPH is recommending vaccination for children and adult residents of Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Greenup, Carter and Boyd counties. The vaccine is not recommended for infants under the age of 1.

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