Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Governor Brown Declares State Of Emergency Over California's Hepatitis A Outbreak
Homeless individuals in downtown San Diego. (Photo by Nathan Rupert via the Creative Commons on Flickr)
()
On Friday afternoon, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency regarding a hepatitis A outbreak that has thus far killed at least 18 people in the state. The emergency proclamation will allow the state to increase its supply of vaccines for the highly contagious virus.
Declaring a state of emergency gives the California Department of Public Health the authority to immediately purchase vaccines directly from manufacturers and distribute them to impacted communities, according to a statement from Governor Brown's office.
San Diego has been dealing with a deadly outbreak of the virus for more than six months. The outbreak was first identified in March, and officials declared a public health emergency in the area in early September. An outbreak was officially declared in Los Angeles County on September 19, with 10 cases reported in L.A. county, two of which were "locally acquired," and couldn't be traced back to either San Diego County or Santa Cruz, which has also experienced an outbreak. There are now 12 reported cases of hepatitis A in L.A. County, according to the L.A. Times.
Hepatitis A is transmitted through feces, typically when the virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces of an infected person, according to the CDC. Rates of the virus in the U.S. have fallen by 95% since a hepatitis A vaccine first became available in 1995. Most people who contract the infection recover completely. However, those who already have a weakened immune system or other health issues can suffer permanent liver damage.
Support for LAist comes from
As noted at the L.A. Times, hepatitis A is typically spread through contaminated food, often with outbreaks centered around a single restaurant. California's outbreak, however, has largely been spread person-to-person, primarily within the state's homeless population. Vaccinating at-risk populations and improving sanitation "are the most effective ways to stop the person-to-person spread of the hepatitis A virus," according to the emergency proclamation.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist