Hepatitis A outbreak slows; health emergency continues

Tom ChristensenCounty of San Diego Communications Office

The County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 27 extended the local hepatitis A health emergency for another two weeks amid continuing signs the outbreak is slowing down.

The board is required to review the need for continuing the emergency, which was declared Sept. 1, every 14 days.

Public health officials told the board in a presentation that here have been 10 cases or fewer reported each week for the past eight weeks. Since the outbreak began Nov. 22, 2016, 561 cases have been reported, with 378 people requiring hospitalizations and 20 deat...