BUFFALO, NY- Erie County officials are warning the public of a hepatitis A exposure at the Buffalo City Mission.
Health officials say on Feb. 6, they were notified of a homeless individual who was hospitalized with hepatitis A.
After interviewing the patient, health officials say they believe there is a significant risk of exposure of hepatitis A for residents and staff at the Buffalo City Mission, as well as anyone living on the street between Jan. 24 through Feb. 4.
Those people are eligible for a vaccination clinic at the City Mission on Friday, Feb. 9 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Other people who may have come into contact with homeless people from the mission during that same time period are also eligible for the vaccine.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said people who came into contact with homeless people, especially on Buffalo's west side, between Jan. 16 and Jan. 23 may have also been exposed, though they won't benefit from the vaccine.
"This case's transmission risk is much more significant. Other U.S. counties have experienced hepatitis A outbreaks in homeless populations in the past year. Exposures from living in close proximity, sharing bathrooms and sharing food, having compromised health and poor nutrition, and drug use create more transmission opportunities than the other hepatitis A case earlier this week," said Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Health Commissioner.
Poloncarz said that county personnel will be deployed to notify the homeless of the exposure.
Health officials warn people to look for hepatitis A symptoms, which include yellowing of the skin and eyes and dark urine. If you have symptoms or think you may have contracted hepatitis A, you should call the county health department at (716) 858-2929.
Officials say this case is not related to a previous incident of hepatitis A exposure.
On Tuesday, health officials announced that a food service worker who worked at a senior living facility and restaurant in Erie County had hepatitis A. Dozens of people who may have been exposed were treated at a hep A clinic at the Bowmansville Fire Department on Wednesday.
