Get vaccinated - Hepatitis A Outbreak in Georgia

Georgia is seeing more cases of Hepatitis A than usual among gay, bisexual, and trans people. The best way to prevent Hepatitis A is through vaccination with the hepatitis A vaccine. If you think you are at risk and would like to get a hepatitis A vaccine, contact your local health department

Acute hepatitis A is a reportable condition in Georgia and should be reported immediately to your local District Public Health Office or by calling 1-866-PUB-HLTH (1-866-782-4584). Download this pdf file.

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Hepatitis A basics

Hepatitis A is contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A spreads when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of feces (poop) from an infected person.

You can get hepatitis A:

  • Through close personal contact with an infected person such as household contacts and/or through sexual exposure
  • By touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus, then putting your hands in your mouth
  • By swallowing food or drink contaminated with hepatitis A virus

Symptoms of hepatitis A

Symptoms range from mild to severe and last a few weeks to several months. Rarely, hepatitis A causes death. Some people will need medical care in a hospital. Symptoms include:

  • Yellow skin or eyes (Jaundice)
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle or joint pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Dark urine
  • Diarrhea
  • Clay-colored stools

People at high risk for hepatitis A

Children are vaccinated for hepatitis A at 12 months of age; however, many adults remain unvaccinated and at risk for becoming infected with HAV. These groups are at high risk for infection and should get vaccinated:

  • People who use drugs (injection or non-injection)
  • People experiencing homelessness
  • Gay and bisexual men
  • People who are, or were recently, incarcerated
  • People with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C

Preventing hepatitis A 

The best way to prevent HAV infection is by getting vaccinated against the hepatitis A virus. In addition to being vaccinated, wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food to help stop the spread of hepatitis A. 

Getting the hepatitis A vaccine

The vaccine is available for free or low cost at local health departments for people who are at risk, which includes gay and bisexual men. To find your local health department check below or visit this website.

 


Health Districts


Counties

District 1-1 (Rome)
www.nwgapublichealth.org
1309 Redmond Road NW Rome, Georgia 30165-9655 
706-295-6704

Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk, Walker

District 1-2 (Dalton)
www.nghd.org
1710 Whitehouse Court Dalton, Georgia 30720-8427
706-529-5757
 

Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, Whitfield

District 2 (Gainesville) 
www.phdistrict2.org
1280 Athens Street
Gainesville, Georgia 30507-7000
770-535-5743

Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White

District 3-1 (Marietta) Cobb/Douglas
www.cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org
1650 County Services Parkway Marietta, Georgia 30008-4010
770-514-2300

Cobb, Douglas

District 3-2 (Atlanta)
www.fultoncountygahealth.org
Fulton County Board of Health 10 Park Place South, SE Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3045
404-613-1205

Fulton

District 3-3 (Jonesboro)
www.claytoncountypublichealth.org
1117 Battlecreek Road Jonesboro, Georgia 30236-2407
678-610-7199

Clayton

District 3-4 (Lawrenceville)
www.gnrhealth.com
2570 Riverside Parkway Lawrenceville, Georgia 30045-3339 P.O. Box 897
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046-0897
770-339-4260

Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale

District 3-5 (DeKalb Health District)
www.dekalbhealth.net
445 Winn Way, Suite 553 Decatur, Georgia 30030-1707 P.O. Box 987
Decatur, Georgia 30031-1701
404-294-3700

DeKalb

District 4 (LaGrange)
www.district4health.org
301 Main Street
LaGrange, Georgia 30240-5740
706-845-4035

Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, Upson

District 5-1 (Dublin)
www.southcentralhealth.info
105 E. Jackson Street Dublin, Georgia 31021-2998
478-275-6545

Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, Wilcox

District 5-2 (Macon)
www.northcentralhealthdistrict.org
201 Second Street
Macon, Georgia 31201-2198
478-751-6303

Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington, Wilkinson

District 6 (Augusta)
www.ecphd.com
1916 North Leg Road Augusta, Georgia 30909-4437
706-667-4250

Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes

District 7 (Columbus)
www.westcentralhealthdistrict.com
2100 Comer Avenue
Columbus, Georgia 31904-8725 P.O. Box 2299
Columbus, Georgia 31902-2299
706-321-6300

Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Muscogee, Marion, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster

District 8-1 (Valdosta)
www.southhealthdistrict.com
325 W. Savannah Avenue Valdosta, Georgia 31601-5901 P.O. Box 5147
Valdosta, Georgia 31603-5147
229-333-5290

Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift, Turner

District 8-2 (Albany)
www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org
1109 North Jackson Street Albany, Georgia 31701-2022
229-352-4275
 

Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Dougherty, Decatur, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth

District 9-1 (Savannah/Brunswick)
www.gachd.org
400 Mall Boulevard
Suite G
Savannah, Georgia 31406
912-644-5210

Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh

District 9-2 (Waycross)
www.sehdph.org
1101 Church Street
Waycross, Georgia 31501-3525
912-285-6002

Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bulloch, Candler, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Evans, Jeff Davis, Pierce, Tattnall, Toombs, Ware, Wayne

District 10 (Athens)
www.publichealthathens.com
220 Research Drive
Athens, Georgia 30605-2738
706-583-2870

Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton

  

For more information on hepatitis A and resources visit this webpage.