Yakima Hepatitis A Cases Grow in Homeless/Drug Population

Yakima's Hepatitis A outbreak has now grown from 15 cases last week to 18 cases this week.  Yakima Health District officials say all the cases still remain within the homeless or illicit drug user population.
The first 5 cases were reported on November 7. District spokeswoman Lilian Bravo says they've been working with Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, Yakima County Jail Indian Health Services and Yakima's homeless camp Camp Hope trying to make sure homeless people are vaccinated against Hepatitis A. So far they've vaccinated 129 people within that population. Health officials say they expect more cases in the near future.
Statewide the State Department of Health reports 124 cases of hepatitis A.