The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services has reported 610 cases of hepatitis A, 501 hospitalizations and 20 deaths. All of these reported cases are related to an outbreak of the disease that happened in August 2016. Although the MDHHS reports no single source as the cause of the illness, like food, beverages or drugs, infected individuals have been cropping up across Southeast Michigan. Part of the reason, according to Corktown Health Center's Medical Director Dr. Latonya Riddle-Jones, is that the symptoms are not always visible.
"The symptoms of the illness are very vague, and some people don't really get sick from it," she said. "The symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea, decreased appetite. It can range from vomiting to having dark-colored urine. Most adults will have some degree of jaundice, but some may not. So, a lot of people are infected but don't even know they are infected."
Symptoms can also include joint pain, pale-colored feces and general fatigue. The danger that comes with infected individuals not knowing they have the virus is great, because HAV is highly contagious. In some cases, it can be fatal.
"The symptoms of the illness are very vague, and some people don't really get sick from it," she said. "The symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea, decreased appetite. It can range from vomiting to having dark-colored urine. Most adults will have some degree of jaundice, but some may not. So, a lot of people are infected but don't even know they are infected."
– Corktown Health Center's Medical Director Dr. Latonya Riddle-Jones
"If you're immunocompromised or if you already have other kidney disease or liver disease, you have hepatitis B or C, HIV, if you are on hemodialysis it absolutely can kill you," Riddle-Jones said. "That's the most extreme, but it can have long-term effects, especially on people who have immunodeficiency. If you have a pretty healthy immune system, it'll just run its course. You might have some mild symptoms for up to a few months until it'll go away completely. And, you have the antibodies, so if you come across Hepatitis A again, your body will just fight it off and you'd never know it."
Still, Riddle-Jones advises that even healthy people should take steps to get vaccinated particularly individuals who are at high risk for catching it, like people experiencing homelessness, gay and bisexual men, illegal drug users and people travelling to countries with high rates of HAV.
"The vaccine is a two-shot series. It is a full dose, so you'd get a full dose today and then you'd get another dose six months later," Riddle-Jones said. "Once you've done that, you have 100 percent protection. We haven't seen any benefit in being re-immunized, but there are studies that are ongoing right now."
If getting vaccinated isn't a possibility, general hygiene can also go far to prevent getting infected, or spreading the infection to someone else.
"Hand hygiene is key, because it is transmitted through the fecal/oral route. So, when you go to the bathroom, wash your hands and you want to wash your hands with warm, soapy water with lots of friction for at least 30 seconds," she said. "That will help to at least get the virus off of your hands. You want to make sure that you clean the home environment, or wherever you're working, if you are infected or if someone else is infected."
Riddle-Jones also recommends using chlorine bleach to clean surfaces around the home as a precaution. She said that the bleach should be at a 1 to 100 water to bleach dilution.
Although there is still a way to go before stopping Detroit's HAV outbreak completely, Riddle-Jones said that following these instructions could put a serious dent in its ability to spread.
"It's really important that we get the word out," she said. "We are getting new patients popping up every day in Metro Detroit."
