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Kentucky's hepatitis A outbreak claims another victim, raising the death toll to 44
Kentucky's hepatitis A outbreak contributed to another death, bringing the outbreak's toll to 44, according to the latest weekly state report posted on Tuesday.
The nation's largest hepatitis A outbreak, declared in November 2017, has sickened 4,288 people and sent 2,065 of them to the hospital. The new report also shows cases continued a downward trend in rural Kentucky.
Dr. Charles Noplis, a psychiatrist focusing on addiction medicine, said many of the Kentuckians who die from hepatitis A are especially vulnerable because they have other health issues, such as hepatitis C. Among the general public, he said, death from hepatitis A is rare.
"I would've never guessed the deaths would be this high," said Noplis, who practices at Renew Recovery and sees patients in London, Kentucky. "I think it underscores the biggest issues at hand in the southeastern portion of the state. We need better health care, better education."
USA Today