CDC urges providers to vaccinate at-risk patients for hepatitis A

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week reported more than 15,000 U.S. cases of hepatitis A since 2016, including 8,500 hospitalizations and 140 deaths. “For many states, this has resulted in an unprecedented number of hepatitis A cases among unvaccinated adults since hepatitis A vaccine became available in 1996, and has led to prolonged community outbreaks that have been challenging and costly to control,” CDC said. The agency recommends that health care facilities screen patients for risk factors such as drug use and homelessness, vaccinate at-risk patients, and quickly report all cases to their public health department.