San Diego power washes streets with bleach after 16 dies in Hepatitis outbreak

By KwakMin-jung Posted : September 12, 2017, 18:45 Updated : September 13, 2017, 08:27

San Diego, a beautiful coastal Californian city suffered a major hepatitis outbreak. [Courtesy of Pixabay ]


San Diego recently suffered a hepatitis outbreak that killed 16 people and infected nearly 300. This was the worst outbreak that the picturesque Californian coastal city suffered. San Diego County Board of Supervisors declared a public health emergency according to a letter that was sent on Thursday.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer's office responded on Friday that the city will take the necessary measure to contain the disease from spreading. The disease has spread from the streets in downtown where many homeless people are residing without the adequate access to restrooms or showers.

San Diego County gave the city five business days to control the hepatitis outbreak. The city responded quickly and started pressure washing the sidewalks of the city with a bleach solution that kills the hepatitis virus on Monday. Jose Ysea, San Diego spokesperson, said, "We're probably going to be doing them every other Monday, see how that works out at least for the time being."

San Diego County will also expand the sanitization effort to the surrounding cities. Also, it hired a contractor to install 40 hand-washing stations in the area where homeless people tend to gather. The 14 public restrooms in the city that homeless can have access will be open 24 hours as an extra measure.

The county is also recommending the residents including homeless to get vaccinated. Anyone who lives or works in the close proximity to the hepatitis outbreak area is at risk. The San Diego Central Library is planning to host a free hepatitis A vaccine clinic on September 19, from 2 pm to 5 pm. 















Kwak, Min Jung = abiel@ajunews.com
KwakMin-jung

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