Infectious Diseases A-Z: Hepatitis A outbreak

Outbreaks of the highly contagious hepatitis A virus have public health officials concerned. An outbreak of hepatitis A in San Diego led public health officials to declare a public health emergency. Officials in San Diego say more than 65 percent of those affected have been homeless or illcit drug users, and the virus is being spread person-to-person and through contact with a fecally contaminated environment. Los Angeles County, and Santa Cruz County have also reported outbreaks.

Dr. Stacey Rizza, infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic says hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The most common forms of hepatitis are A, B, and C. Each is caused by a different virus, have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver differently.