Stephen I. Feller , 2025-05-07 15:55:00
Key takeaways:
- There have been 29 confirmed cases of hepatitis A in Los Angeles this year, following 165 in 2024.
- Although homelessness is a risk factor, most cases this year have been among people without housing issues.
Los Angeles has declared an outbreak of hepatitis A virus based on “elevated virus levels” in wastewater surveillance and a “sustained increase” in cases over the last year, health officials announced.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, there have been 29 confirmed cases of HAV in the county so far this year. There were 165 confirmed cases in 2024 — nearly triple the number in 2023, the health department said. It recommended vaccination and good hygiene to avoid infection.
“The ongoing increase in hepatitis A cases signals that quick action is needed to protect public health,” Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County health officer, said in a press release.
“The hepatitis A vaccine is safe, effective and offers long-term protection,” Davis said. “Getting vaccinated is simple, and it’s one of the most important things you can do for your own health and the health of our entire community. It is also important for residents to wash their hands with soap and water regularly, and especially before eating and preparing food and after using the bathroom.”
The health department started investigating a potential HAV outbreak in mid-March 2024 after identifying five cases among people experiencing homelessness.
The county started offering free HAV vaccination to unhoused people and launched outreach efforts with community organizations to raise awareness about the infection.
Although HAV generally causes mild, short-term illness, it is highly contagious and — in older people and those with other health issues — can cause liver failure and death, according to the CDC. HAV spreads from person to person through close contact, consuming contaminated foods or drinks, or exposure to urine or feces from someone who is infected.
Since 2016, there have been outbreaks in several states among people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness and men who have sex with men, according to the CDC.
In the current outbreak, officials said that while people experiencing homelessness have been among the cases, most of the 29 infections reported in 2025 have been among people who have not recently traveled and do not have housing risk factors.
According to the county, infections among people without housing risk factors have corresponded with increases in HAV detected in wastewater.
The health department said it has made HAV vaccines freely available for any resident who has not previously been vaccinated, people experiencing homelessness and people who use drugs, including drugs that are not injected.
“Through our mobile vaccine units, public health continues to offer free hepatitis A vaccines to people experiencing homelessness in encampments and at interim house sites where there is risk of potential exposure,” the health department said in the release. “In addition to vaccination, public health recommends residents follow good hygiene practices, including washing their hands with soap and water before eating and preparing food, and after using the bathroom.”
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