3 Utahns are dead after a hepatitis A outbreak spread from San Diego
(Eduardo Contreras | The San Diego Union-Tribune | The Associated Press) In this Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, file photo, a worker tapes signage telling people to get vaccinated to protect themselves against Hepatitis A, onto sinks installed at the Neil Good Day Center on 17th Street downtown in San Diego. A San Diego County grand jury report faults local response to a recent hepatitis A epidemic and recommends improving lines of communication to prepare for future health emergencies. The San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper says the 20-page report released Thursday, May 17, 2018, commends officials for effectively contacting at-risk residents and getting them vaccinations.
| Aug. 16, 2018, 5:05 p.m.
| Updated: Aug. 17, 2018, 2:27 a.m.
Health officials say a hepatitis A outbreak that spread from San Diego has killed three people in Utah, but it’s now waning.
Epidemiologists told state lawmakers on Wednesday that no cases were detected in connection with restaurants where patrons were warned to get tested after workers became infected.
No additional details were released about the deaths. Health officials have said two people who died belonged to one or more at-risk groups that include homeless people, drug users and people recently incarcerated.
Health officials have identified 272 cases of hepatitis A in the state since last May.
Michelle Vowles with the Salt Lake County Health Department says a number of states have also experience recent outbreaks, including Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.