Viral Hepatitis A, 2019

In 2019, 76 cases of hepatitis A (1.4 per 100,000 population) were reported. Fifty-one cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Forty cases were male. The median age was 31 years (range <1 to 87). Race was known for 72 cases; 35 (49%) were white, 22 (29%) were American Indian/Alaskan Native, 11 (19%) were black, 2 (3%) were Asian/Pacific Islander, and 2 (3%) were reported as other race. Three (4%) cases were known to be of Hispanic ethnicity.

Ongoing outbreaks of hepatitis A have been occurring in states across the country since 2016, with at least 35 states reporting outbreaks. An outbreak was declared in Minnesota in August 2019, and 65 cases are considered outbreak-associated. Fifty cases had risk factors that have been seen elsewhere, including injection and non-injection drug use, homelessness/ transient housing, and recent incarceration. Five cases did not report risk factors, but were epidemiologically linked to other cases in the outbreak. An additional 4 cases did not report risk factors, but traveled to states with ongoing outbreaks. The remaining 6 cases did not report any risk factors for hepatitis A, but had not traveled internationally during their exposure period.

Of the cases not associated with the ongoing outbreak, 7 cases were associated with international travel. One case was associated with a national foodborne outbreak. No risk factor was identified for the 3 remaining cases.

• Find up to date information at>> Hepatitis A
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2019