Help Us Control the Hep A Outbreak!

The following is a memo from the Philadelphia Health Commissioner and registration for the Hepatitis A Outbreak Webinar.

Dear Health Care Colleague:

We are asking for your help to control an hepatitis A outbreak in Philadelphia. On August 1, 2019, I declared a Public Health Emergency in Philadelphia due to the rapidly increasing spread of hepatitis A. This outbreak is heavily connected to our ongoing problems of drug use and homelessness, similar to hepatitis A outbreaks occurring in several states across the United States. However, there have also been cases among community members without risk factors.

Vaccination against hepatitis A is the most important tool to prevent disease and stop this outbreak. The Health Department has taken extensive action to reach people at risk and provide hepatitis A vaccine. Since October 2017, we have vaccinated more than 1,700 people. We will be greatly expanding our outreach efforts, but we also need your partnership to effectively control this outbreak. It takes at least 80% of a population to be vaccinated to stop transmission. Many adults in Philadelphia, especially those who use drugs or are experiencing homelessness, do not have consistent medical providers and may seek care only for acute problems. You are often the first or only point of healthcare contact. Therefore, it is important to offer vaccine to anyone at risk for hepatitis A infection or serious complication whenever they come in contact with you.

We are asking you to:

1. 1. Vaccinate ALL of your patients at risk of acquiring infection, including:
      1. Persons who use injection or non-injection drugs,
      2. Persons experiencing homelessness or unstable housing,
      3. Persons who are or were recently incarcerated, and
      4. Men who have sex with men.
   2. Vaccinate ALL of your patients at risk for serious complications from hepatitis A disease, including:
      1. Persons with chronic liver disease (cirrhosis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C), and
      2. Persons with HIV infection.

The health department cannot provide vaccine for everyone who needs to it. For this reason, we are also asking you to provide Hepatitis A vaccine to your patients. This vaccine is covered by health insurance when given to persons for whom vaccination is recommended.

For more information, please see our most recent Health Alert dated August 8, 2019. Additionally, we are hosting a webinar to review the outbreak in Philadelphia, describe health department actions to control the outbreak and provide an opportunity for questions. Available dates are as follows:

• Thursday, August 15th from 12:00PM – 1:00PM
• Friday, August 16th from 10:00AM – 11:00AM
• Wednesday, August 21st from 12:00PM – 1:00PM

Click Here to Register

Sincerely,
Thomas Farley, MD MPH
Commissioner
Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Originally released by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health Division of Disease Control on August 19, 2019.