Health department helps deal with hepatitis A at county jail

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana county's health department is helping deal with a hepatitis A outbreak that's reached the county jail.

The Star Press reports Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner says the outbreak was detected this month. As of last count Indiana had more than 980 confirmed cases of hepatitis A , including seven in Delaware County. Skinner says some of those were detected at the county jail.

The Delaware County Health Department provided vaccinations to inmates and jail staff. Jammie Bane, administrator of the county health department, said the "quick action and teamwork ... has been critical in providing an effective response in an effort to quickly stop the spread of this outbreak in our jail."

The disease attacks the liver and causes symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever and jaundice.

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Information from: The Star Press, http://www.thestarpress.com