After a rise in cases throughout the last year, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is declaring an outbreak of hepatitis A.
According to public health, hepatitis A cases tripled from 2023 to 2024, with 165 cases reported in the county last year. As many as 29 have been reported in 2025 so far.
Hepatitis A is found in the stool of infected persons and is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. It can be spread through close person-to-person contact and through contaminated food or drink, public health warns.
Because of its transmission methods, hepatitis A is especially prevalent among unhoused people as they have less access to sanitation like handwashing and toilets.
Public health recommends residents make sure they’re sanitizing, and to check if they’re vaccinated against hepatitis A.
“The ongoing increase in hepatitis A cases signals that quick action is needed to protect public health,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer. “The hepatitis A vaccine is safe, effective, and offers long-term protection. 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.”
To find a vaccination clinic in L.A. County, click here.
