Hepatitis A Increase in Southeast Michigan

Danielle Donovan and Tiffany Henderson, Bureau of Epidemiology, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Since late July 2016, 58 lab-confirmed cases of hepatitis A have been reported in four counties in Southeast Michigan.  This is about 10 times the number of cases that the City of Detroit, Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties combined typically see between July and December months. The distribution of cases has been slanted towards males, contributing to 65.5% of the total cases.  The median age is 46.5 years, with an age range of 24–83 years. Many of the sick individuals have presented with severe illness. The overall hospitalization rate is over 87% and three deaths have been reported.  

​According to national surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the hospitalization rate for hepatitis A is 11-22%.  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and the CDC have been assisting the local health departments with their investigations.
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