CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Department of Health and the Casper-Natrona County Health Department are continuing to investigate a growing hepatitis A outbreak in the county that began in October.
KTWO-AM reports that health officials say 14 cases have now been confirmed among Natrona County residents since October. That’s a significant increase over the usual total for Wyoming, where the previous long-term average statewide was two cases annually.
The last reported local Hepatitis A infection was in 2012.
Clay Van Houten of the state Health Department says the recent cases have been concentrated among current injection drug users.
Health officials say hepatitis A can cause infection in the liver and is primarily spread person-to-person through oral contact with contaminated items.
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Information from: KTWO-AM, http://www.k2radio.com/
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