The number of Hepatitis A cases in Nashville has risen to 41 since December.
MPHD continues to work with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), as well as other Metro Departments and community organizations in response to the outbreak.
“We have added at least ten new vaccination outreach events in the last week,” said Rachel Franklin, Interim Director of Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness. “These events are scheduled throughout the month of July and continue to focus on our at-risk populations.”
“We also want to remind everyone that practicing good hand washing hygiene can help stop the spread of this illness. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, after you use the restroom and before eating or preparing any meals.”
Ongoing vaccination efforts at MPHD clinics and Neighborhood Health clinics.
- Thursday, July 5th (1-6pm): Nashville Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette St, Nashville 37203 (IN PROGRESS)
- Friday, July 6th (9am-12pm): Community Care Fellowship (Ken & Carol’s), 511 South 8th Street, Nashville 37206
- Monday, July 9th (9am-12pm): Women's Rescue Mission, 1716 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208
custody enters a DCSO facility; vaccine refrigerators have been delivered to two detention facilities to enable this process.
As a result of the confirmed cases, all DCSO inmates will undergo a screening prior to being taken to any scheduled appointments or court dates. If they are found to have any signs or symptoms, they will be isolated and will not leave the facility until they have been cleared by medical staff.
Large hepatitis A outbreaks have occurred since early 2017 in several states, including ongoing outbreaks in California, Utah, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, spreading from person to person primarily among people who are experiencing homelessness and people who use drugs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those at greatest risk of exposure to hepatitis A in the current outbreaks include:
• People who use drugs (not just injection drug use)
• Men who have sexual contact with men
• Individuals experiencing homelessness
MPHD is working with TDH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on testing specimens collected from those confirmed as having hep A. MPHD has received confirmation from the CDC that genotype test results from one of the samples in Nashville matched the strain of hepatitis A found in the recent outbreaks around the country.
MPHD continues to offer free hepatitis A vaccine at all three of its Health Centers to the three risk groups. MPHD continues to receive additional doses of hepatitis A vaccine from TDH and more vaccine is available as needed.
MPHD operates three health centers open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday:
- East Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane
- Lentz Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Ave.
- Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Ave
An agreement with Neighborhood Health has been established to provide hepatitis A vaccine to those in the three at-risk groups. Neighborhood Health locations and hours of operation are as follows:
- Downtown Clinic, 526 8th Avenue South (adjacent to the Room in the Inn campus) 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Madison Clinic, 601 W. Due West Avenue 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday
- My House Clinic, 442 Metroplex Dr. Building D, Suite 200 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday
Walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can be made with Neighborhood Health by calling (615) 227-3000.
