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74 Cases Of Hepatitis A Confirmed In Nashville Since December

Posted at 10:18 AM, Aug 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-10 11:18:11-04

Health officials have confirmed 74 cases of hepatitis A in Nashville since December 2017. 

The Metro Public Health Department continues to work with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), as well as other Metro Departments and community organizations in response to the outbreak.

So far, thousands of vaccines have been distributed to at-risk groups. 

Officials said they've worked to vaccinate more than 4,000 people in the Nashville area over the past two months. 

Large hepatitis A outbreaks have occurred since 2017 in several states, including ongoing outbreaks in Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. It spreads from person to person, primarily among people who are homeless and people who use illicit 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 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

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. Click here for more information.