Yakima Hepatitis Outbreak Now In General Population

Yakima's Hepatitis A outbreak is at 22 cases this week.  However officials from the Yakima Health District say the cases could grow because hepatitis a has an incubation period of up to 50 days. The first 5 cases were reported on November 7.
District spokeswoman Lilian Bravo says while the first cases were all in the homeless and drug user population that's no longer the case. It's now spread to the general population which Bravo says was expected. She urges everyone to create good hand washing habits and make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
Statewide the State Department of Health reports 124 cases of Hepatitis A. Yakima health officials continue to monitor to the local outbreak.
And they say because of the incubation period they expect the cases to grow in the future.