By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  County nurse Paulina Bobenrieth vaccinates a patient in downtown San Diego.

January 2, 2018 (San Diego) - The County Board of Supervisors extended the local public health emergency for hepatitis A again on Tuesday, but efforts are now underway to transition out of the emergency amid declining case numbers.

East County News Service

October 24, 2017 (San Diego) — County Supervisors voted Tuesday to again extend the public health emergency declaration over Hepatitis A for two more weeks.  As of Oct. 18, 516 cases have been diagnosed, including 19 fatalities.

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2017 (San Diego) – The countywide hepatitis outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people includes several cases contracted in San Diego County jails.

That prompted criticism from Dave Meyers, a candidate running against Sheriff Bill Gore in 2018. Meyers, in an email sent to those on his distribution list, states, “Sheriff Bill Gore has ignored basic CDC standards for sanitation and disease prevention in the county jails and has managed them as if they are a solution to homelessness.  As a result, the county jails have served as an incubator for this epidemic.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap is an important step you can take to prevent spread of Hepatitis A.

September 25, 2017 (La Mesa) – After the County’s emergency declaration over Hepatitis A,  ECM learned that eight cases have been reported in La Mesa and at least six cases in Santee. So we asked both cities what steps they are taking to  address this public health problem.

Source:  City of El Cajon

September 20, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon has been working closely with the County of San Diego and other partners since the announcement of the recent Hepatitis A outbreak.  The City is taking an aggressive and proactive role in protecting the safety of the City’s residents and visitors. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 5, 2017 (El Cajon) – Following a County declaration of a Hepatitis A emergency last Friday, with 70% of those cases among homeless people and/or illicit drug users, East County Magazine asked for information on El Cajon, which has a substantial homeless population.  Today, Councilman Gary Kendrick confirmed, “The County has identified that some of these cases have been within the city of El Cajon.”