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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).
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.
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| 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) | Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, Whitfield |
District 2 (Gainesville) | Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, White |
District 3-1 (Marietta) Cobb/Douglas | Cobb, Douglas |
District 3-2 (Atlanta) | Fulton |
District 3-3 (Jonesboro) | Clayton |
District 3-4 (Lawrenceville) | Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale |
District 3-5 (DeKalb Health District) | DeKalb |
District 4 (LaGrange) | Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, Upson |
District 5-1 (Dublin) | 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) | Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes |
District 7 (Columbus) | Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Muscogee, Marion, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Webster |
District 8-1 (Valdosta) | Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift, Turner |
District 8-2 (Albany) | Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Dougherty, Decatur, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Worth |
District 9-1 (Savannah/Brunswick) | 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) | Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton |
For more information on hepatitis A and resources visit this webpage.