San Diego mobilizes amid hepatitis A outbreak

For public officials in San Diego County, the official line is "better safe than sorry" when it comes to an outbreak of hepatitis A. Health officials suspected a local restaurant exposed diners to the disease, and more than 200 people lined up to receive vaccinations.

“We’re in the midst of an outbreak and anybody who comes here who wants to get the shot, even if they didn’t eat at the restaurant, we’re going ahead and giving them the shot,” Eric McDonald, MD, director of San Diego County's epidemiology and immunization services branch, told the Los Angeles Times.

San Diego's World Famous eatery closed last week, once it was suspected as the latest source of the dangerous liver disease. This latest outbreak, the largest in decades, has claimed 16 lives and hospitalized nearly 300 people.

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Nicholas Leider, Managing Editor

Nicholas joined TriMed in 2016 as the managing editor of the Chicago office. After receiving his master’s from Roosevelt University, he worked in various writing/editing roles for magazines ranging in topic from billiards to metallurgy. Currently on Chicago’s north side, Nicholas keeps busy by running, reading and talking to his two cats.

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