Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection that causes dysentery, fatigue, jaundice, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and sharp abdominal pains. People can become infected by eating tainted seafood and fruit or having close contact with someone up to two weeks before they display symptoms. Unfortunately, despite the obscure existence of the illness within the U.S., California recently fell victim to an outbreak in more than 580 people. This outbreak is the largest to occur in a decade, prompting California Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency.

At least 18 people have died in this outbreak since it escaped the incubated homeless patients in San Diego. The seriousness of the infection, coupled with the populated cities the virus is being found in, such as Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, make this situation very dangerous for California citizens. Despite official work to halt the virus, the spread of Hepatitis A in California has the potential to last a number of years. The last widespread Hepatitis A outbreak was in Pennsylvania in 2003, infecting over 800 people yet only killing 4. Because this California outbreak isn’t posing an extreme threat to the general public, officials are taking measures to appeal to the heavy homeless population and inform the drug users in the area about the infection.

Hepatitis A has a vaccine to prevent it, already required for minors, but Governor Brown is attempting to make the vaccine more commercial in order for it to be readily available for the adult population that isn’t vaccinated. Once a person is hospitalized for the illness, they are treated for around seven weeks. Over 80,000 people have had the vaccine administered to them since Oct. 13, although the first case of the San Diego outbreak was said to be reported back in March.

The average number of Hepatitis A cases annually reported is about 160 in California, a minuscule amount compared to the 490 reported in San Diego County the past few months alone. Hepatitis A was first detected in the beginning of the year, but the repeated contact between the victims created a breeding ground for the virus to thrive.

Regrettably, the only thing citizens who have already been vaccinated can do is be aware of their surroundings and maintain good hand washing habits. People lacking proper food, sanitation, medical care, or insurance; such as the homeless population; are at the highest risk of infection. Hopefully, California won’t have to bear witness to a large health epidemic any more than it already has.