The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) just awarded $500,000 in grants for all local health departments to fight the state's hepatitis A outbreak.
According to MDHHS, each health department was issued $20,000 to increase vaccination outreach to high-risk populations. People with a history of drug-use (injection or non-injection), homelessness or transient housing, incarceration and men who have sex with men have a greater risk of contracting hepatitis A.
“This has been the largest person-to-person hepatitis A outbreak in Michigan’s history, with more than 780 cases,” said Dr. Eden Wells, MDHHS chief medical executive. “Increasing vaccination outreach to high-risk populations across the state is essential to stopping the spread of hepatitis A in Michigan.”
The funding is part of a multi-million dollar plan approved by Legislature in late 2017 to address the outbreak. The money can used for staffing, education and vaccination outreach efforts.
The following West Michigan health departments received grants:
- Allegan County Health Department
- Berrien County Health Department
- Ionia County Health Department
- Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department
- Kent County Health Department
- Public Health of Muskegon County
- Ottawa County Health Department
- Van Buren-Cass District Health Department
For more information about hepatitis A, the sighs and symptoms and getting vaccinated, visit www.michigan.gov/hepatitisaoutbreak.
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April Stevens is a multi-platform producer at WZZM 13. Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.
