California's governor Jerry Brown declared Friday a state of emergency amid the deadly hepatitis A outbreak that has killed at least 18 people in the western U.S. state.

 

加利福尼亚州爆发甲型肝炎，造成至少18人死亡，州长杰瑞·布朗周五宣布该州进入紧急状态。

 

The emergency proclamation, issued by Brown, allows the state to increase the supply of adult hepatitis A vaccines¹ to meet current needs with an aim to help control the outbreak in the state.

 

The announcement also allows California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to immediately purchase additional vaccines directly from manufacturers and coordinate³ distribution to people at the highest risk of infection in affected⁴ areas.

 

"Vaccinating⁵ people at risk of exposure is the most effective tool we have to prevent the spread of hepatitis A infection during an outbreak," said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith in a press release.

 

According to the CDPH, the current outbreak has largely impacted homeless people and some illicit⁶ drug users. The virus can live for months in a contaminated environment, particularly in the absence of good sanitation⁷. Nearly 80,000 doses of the vaccine² obtained through the federal vaccine program have been distributed.

 

"Local public health officials are working hard to offer vaccines to people who are the most at the risk of infection, including homeless Californians," said Smith.

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