Local health officials have declared hepatitis A outbreak in Los Angeles County due to a recent spike in incidents.
“The rise in virus levels continued following clinical crow cases detected in local wastewater,” the county public health department said in a statement Monday.
In 2024, there were 165 confirmed cases of hepatitis A in LA County, three times the previous year. So far, a total of 29 confirmed cases have been confirmed in 2025, officials said.
“Mostly [of the new cases] Lacdph explained. “This increase in hepatitis A infection among people without risk factors corresponds to the recent increase in hepatitis A wastewater concentration.”
“The risk to the public remains low, but community-wide protection measures are needed to ensure that the transmission of hepatitis A is reduced,” Lacdph said.
Health officials recommend getting the Hepatitis A vaccine and practicing good hygiene to protect yourself.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by a virus. It can range from mild illnesses that last several weeks to severe illnesses that last several months.
According to LACDPH, symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, weakness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, yellowing (yellow skin or eyes), stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, pale stool, and diarrhea.
For more information surrounding the outbreak, click here.
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