Tag: hepatitis

Hepatitis Response Report

Release

PHILADELPHIA–Less than six months after declaring an outbreak of Hepatitis A to be a public health emergency, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has released a report on the response showing that, after an intensive vaccination campaign and the installation of public toilets, the city experienced a greater than 90% drop from a peak of nearly 120 Hepatitis A cases in August 2019 to fewer than 10 cases in December 2019.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/health-department-announces-hepatitis-a-outbreak-response-leading-to-a-sharp-drop-in-cases

Philly Voice

Due to these initiatives, health officials began seeing a sharp decline in hepatitis A cases in September, when 50 cases were reported. Monthly totals dipped to 36 in October, 15 in November and nine in December.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-hepatitis-a-outbreak-cases-decline-outreach-initiatives/

By Tracey Romero

Inquirer

“The most successful strategy to combat these outbreaks is an intensive vaccination campaign, which we implemented and appears to have worked,” said city Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. “While we are excited to see these results, there is much more work to be done to ensure that the infection does not flare up again.”

https://www.inquirer.com/health/hepatitis-a-outbreak-health-emergency-kensington-opioid-20200207.html

By Rita Giordano

Ristorante La Buca Hepatitis A Warning

Release

 

Fox29

Health officials are warning of possible Hepatitis A exposure at a Center City restaurant.

According to officials, they recently confirmed that a person who works at Ristorante La Buca, located at 711 Locust Street has acute Hepatitis A.

https://www.fox29.com/news/health-officials-warn-of-possible-hepatitis-a-exposure-at-center-city-restaurant

By Staff

CBS3

Anyone who dined at the restaurant between Monday, Oct. 28 and Friday, Nov. 15 should receive a Hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible, officials warn.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/11/15/health-officials-warn-of-potential-hepatitis-a-exposure-after-ristorante-la-buca-restaurant-worker-confirmed-to-have-disease/

By Staff

Patch.com

Those who have previously received two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine or have had Hepatitis A in the past do not need to be vaccinated, the department said.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/center-city-retaurant-worker-has-hepatitis-health-department

By Max Bennett

PhillyVoice

Anyone who dined at the restaurant between Oct. 28 and Nov. 15 would have been potentially exposed, according to health officials. The Health Department advises that people who haven’t already received two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine and dined at the restaurant should receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Those who’ve already received two doses of the vaccine or have had Hepatitis A in the past don’t need to be vaccinated, health officials said.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/center-city-hepatitis-a-exposure-philadelphia-health-department-warning-ristorante-la-buca/

By Adam Hermann

6ABC

Officials recommend anyone who visited Ristorante La Buca between October 28 and November 15 receive a Hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible after a person who works at the restaurant contracted the virus.

https://6abc.com/health/officials-warn-of-possible-hepatitis-a-exposure-at-center-city-restaurant/5700079/

By Staff

Streets Cleaners Safety

Hepatitis A —  a curable but highly contagious and debilitating liver disease — is primarily caused by a virus transmitted by the so-called fecal-oral route.

By mid-October, the number of reported cases in Philadelphia had surged to 360, according to city health officials. A typical year brings two to six cases.

https://whyy.org/articles/feces-and-needles-jumping-in-the-air-city-street-cleaners-want-better-safety-gear/

By Aaron Moselle

Hepatitis A Response

Addiction and homelessness is a major dilemma in Kensington, Philadelphia, and those directly affected have very limited access to basic resources like restrooms. So when Hepatitis A broke out across the neighborhood, the city of Philadelphia installed public restrooms equipped with toilets, running water, attendants, and Narcan. Host Shirley Min heads to Kensington to take a look at the initiative, and meets Jacelyn Blank, a mother and resident, who contracted Hep-A while planting trees and tending a community garden.

https://whyy.org/episodes/combatting-disease-in-kensington/

By Shirley Min

Kensington Public Toilets

Philadelphia health officials first sounded the alarm for Hepatitis A in July. The number of cases citywide, about 30 annually, had quintupled in the last two years. Most at risk are people who are battling homelessness and drug addiction, according to health department data.

https://billypenn.com/2019/09/26/public-toilets-and-sinks-are-installed-in-kensington-and-were-vandalized-on-the-first-day/

By Michaela Winberg

Hepatitis A at Kensington Donut Shop

Release

https://www.phila.gov/2019-09-19-health-department-warns-of-potential-hepatitis-a-exposure/

CBS3

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has issued a warning of possible hepatitis A exposure after a Kensington doughnut shop worker tested positive for the infection. Health officials say the employee works at Yumcious Donuts at 3001 Kensington Ave.

Philadelphia Health Officials Warn Of Possible Hepatitis A Exposure At Kensington Doughnut Shop

By Staff

NBC10

The city health department says the risk of Hepatitis A infection is “very low,” but still recommended that people who purchased or ate doughnuts from the shop during the two-week period get a Hep A vaccine as soon as possible.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/health/Doughnut-Shop-Hepatitis-A-Exposure-560790081.html

By Dan Stamm

6ABC

People who have already had two doses of the vaccine, or have had hepatitis in the past, do not been to be vaccinated, officials said.

“People who need hepatitis A vaccine should contact their healthcare provider’s office or visit a pharmacy to receive vaccine,” officials said in a news release.

https://6abc.com/health/officials-warn-of-possible-hepatitis-a-exposure-in-kensington-/5552426/

By Staff

PhillyVoice

Potential exposure to customers would have fallen between the dates of Aug. 20 and Sept. 4. Those who have not had at least two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine in the past are advised to get vaccinated. Those who have had Hepatitis A previously do not need to be vaccinated.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/kensington-hepatitis-a-exposure-philly-health-department-warning/

By Michael Tanenbaum

Inquirer

The person worked at Yumcious Donuts at 3001 Kensington Ave., officials said. Anyone who bought doughnuts there or at a Quick Stop at the same address between Aug. 20 and Sept. 4 should get vaccinated “as soon as possible,” Philadelphia’s health department said in a statement.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/hepatitis-a-case-vaccine-kensington-donut-shop-20190919.html

By Aubrey Whelan

Patch

While the risk of Hepatitis A infection is very low, the Health Department recommends that people who purchased donuts from Yumcious or the Quick Stop location at the same address between Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Sept. 4, receive Hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/food-service-worker-has-hepatitis-philly-health-department

By Max Bennett

Juniata News

The Health Department is also offering Hepatitis A vaccine at McPherson Square Park on Thursday, September 19th and Tues, September, 24th from 10am to 2pm.  If you need assistance getting Hepatitis A vaccine, contact the health department at 215-685-6741 during business hours (Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:00pm).

https://juniatanewsphilly.com/2019/09/19/health-department-warns-of-potential-hepatitis-a-exposure-from-a-food-worker-in-kensington/

by Tom Lineman

Hep A Update

The number of confirmed cases this year stood at 196 as of last Friday, said Dr. Steven Alles, Philadelphia’s director of disease control. Typically, the city sees two to six cases per year. Several more possible cases are being investigated.

There is not one particular hot spot of infection in Philly. “We are seeing cases presented from all over the city,” Alles told Metro. Most of the cases are in people who report using drugs or being homeless. But in a third of the infections, risk factors are unknown.

https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/philadelphia/no-end-sight-hepatitis-emergency-philadelphia

By Michael Martin

Hep A Clinic at McPherson

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is dealing with a case of hepatitis A in Kensington, and the agency is offering free vaccines this week.

People and some beat cops lined up to get their shots at a table the health department set up at the edge of McPherson Park Tuesday. Some said they were reluctant.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/hepatitis-case-prompts-health-dept-urge-vaccination

By Paul Kurtz

Hep A in a Food Handler in Kensington

Release

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has recently confirmed that a person who works at the Imperial Kitchen, located at 3164 Frankford Avenue has acute Hepatitis A. While the risk of Hepatitis A infection is very low, the Health Department recommends that people who purchased food from Imperial Kitchen between Sunday, July 21st and Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 receive Hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible. People who have previously received two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine OR have had Hepatitis A in the past do not need to be vaccinated.

https://www.phila.gov/2019-08-16-health-department-warns-of-potential-hepatitis-a-exposure-in-kensington/

Inquirer

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health on Friday said a worker at Imperial Kitchen, located at 3164 Frankford Ave., near E. Allegheny Avenue, was confirmed to have hepatitis A. The liver infection is spread through oral contact with infected feces — usually when an infected person does not thoroughly wash their hands after using the bathroom and then prepares food.

By Sarah Gantz

https://www.inquirer.com/health/hepatitis-a-outbreak-kensington-imperial-kitchen-20190816.html

Philly Voice

Health officials urged patrons of Imperial Kitchen, located at 3164 Frankford Ave., to receive a Hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible. They recently confirmed a food worker there has acute Hepatitis A, a liver virus that is be transmitted through contaminated food or water.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/hepatitis-a-expsoure-philadelphia-kensington-imperial-kitchen/

By Jon Kopp

CBS3

The health department is now recommending people who purchased food from Imperial Kitchen between Sunday, July 21 and Tuesday, Aug. 6 to get vaccinated. People who have previously received two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine or have had Hepatitis A in the past do not need to be vaccinated.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/08/16/philadelphia-health-officials-warn-of-possible-hepatitis-a-exposure-at-kensington-chinese-takeout-restaurant/

By Staff

Hepatitis A Public Health Emergency Declaration

Release

Health Commissioner, Dr. Thomas Farley, declared that the ongoing outbreak of Hepatitis A in Philadelphia is a public health emergency and has directed health care providers and governmental and non-governmental agencies to help vaccinate those most at risk for the infection in order to stop the outbreak. As part of the Philadelphia Resilience Project, the City of Philadelphia will be expanding its own outreach to vaccinate homeless persons and others at greatest risk.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/philadelphia-health-commissioner-declares-public-health-emergency-for-outbreak-of-hepatitis-a-virus

Philly Voice

Philadelphia officials have declared a public health emergency over an outbreak of Hepatitis A that has become a growing concern in 2019.

Health Commissioner Thomas Farley announced the public health emergency Thursday afternoon, directing health care providers and agencies to vaccinate those at the highest risk of infection.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/hepatitis-a-philadelphia-emergency-public-health-outbreak-vaccine/

By Michael Tanenbaum

KYW

“It’ll make it easier for us to mobilize doctors and other medical providers to offer vaccination to people when they come in contact with the medical system,” said Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, “and for us to use our resources to vaccinate people who may not come in contact with a medical system, such as people living on the street.”

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/philly-health-officials-declare-public-emergency-over-hepatitis-outbreak

By Andrew Kramer

Fox29

The health department says the city usually sees between two to six cases of Hepatitis A per year. Since January, the department has been notified of 154 cases.

https://www.fox29.com/news/public-health-emergency-declared-in-philadelphia-over-hepatitis-a-outbreak

By Jeff Cole

Patch

Since July 2018, the Health Department has coordinated the vaccination of 1,775 people considered at-risk, and reports that more than 12,439 total Hepatitis A vaccinations have been given in the city.

Because these efforts have not been sufficient to end the outbreak, the Health Department is mobilizing with this declaration of emergency to vaccinate tens of thousands of additional at-risk folks.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/chestnuthill/health-emergency-declared-philly-due-hepatitis-outbreak

By Max Bennett

CBS3

Philadelphia has declared a public health emergency as hepatitis A cases continue to skyrocket. A major source of the problem is human feces on city streets.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/08/01/philadelphia-declares-public-health-emergency-for-hepatitis-a-outbreak-kensington/

By Staff

CNN

“While there’s not an exact cause that we can pinpoint, Philadelphia had been in the grip of the opioid crisis, which the Health Commissioner had called the worst epidemic here in more than a century,” James Garrow, spokesman for Philadelphia Department of Public Health, told CNN in an email.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/02/health/philadelphia-hepatitis-a-epidemic/index.html

By Susan Scutti

6ABC 1

“We don’t want anyone to contract Hepatitis A, and we have the ability to stop this outbreak. Now that we have a safe and effective vaccine, the most important action we can take is for everyone at high risk to be vaccinated,” Dr. Thomas Farley, health commissioner in Philadelphia.

https://6abc.com/health/hepatitis-a-outbreak-public-health-emergency-declared-in-philly-/5435844/

By Christie Ileto

AP

Officials in Philadelphia have declared a public health emergency due to an ongoing outbreak of Hepatitis A.

Health care providers have been directed to help vaccinate those most at risk for infection to stop the outbreak.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/08/philadelphia-declares-public-health-emergency-over-hepatitis-a-outbreak.html

By Staff

Inquirer

In light of that, the city stepped up vaccinations last year. But it wasn’t enough. In its emergency declaration, the city encouraged health-care providers to begin offering hepatitis A vaccines to groups at risk of contracting the disease. The city Public Health Department has vaccinated 1,775 people since last July, and more than 12,000 people have been vaccinated in Philadelphia as a whole in that time period.

“One of the key purposes of the declaration is to mobilize the medical community,” Farley said. “We’re optimistic we can contain it if we vaccinate people at risk.”

https://www.inquirer.com/health/hepatitis-a-outbreak-emergency-philadelphia-20190801.html

By Aubrey Whelan

WHYY

The city is calling on health care providers, as well as government and non-government agencies, to help vaccinate residents with the “greatest risk” of contracting the liver disease — including drug users, homeless people, and recently released inmates.

Those who have had close contact with them should also be vaccinated, said Health Commissioner Thomas Farley.

https://whyy.org/articles/philly-declares-public-health-emergency-as-hepatitis-a-infections-surge/

By Aaron Moselle

US News and World Report

Officials in Philadelphia have confirmed 154 hepatitis A cases so far this year, with the “vast majority” occurring since May, according to the emergency declaration from Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. The city, which typically sees two to nine reports of hepatitis Aper year, is investigating other potential cases as well.

https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2019-08-02/hepatitis-a-sparks-public-health-emergencies-in-florida-philadelphia

By Gabby Galvin

6ABC 2

Health officials in Philadelphia continue efforts to control an outbreak of Hepatitis A. Free vaccinations were offered to people in Kensington on Tuesday.
A little pinch for protection.

Outside the McPherson Square Library, workers from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health were set up to offer free Hepatitis A vaccinations.

https://6abc.com/health/health-department-offers-free-hepatitis-a-vaccines-following-outbreak/5447602/

By Staff

KYW 2

Health officials in Philadelphia have declared a public health emergency over the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak. Health Commissioner Thomas Farley explains what exactly the virus is and what the symptoms are.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/media/audio-channel/what-hepatitis-health-commissioner-explains-wake-emergency-declaration

By Staff