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Hepatitis A outbreak in reaches Delaware County jail

Nearly 1K hepatitis A cases reported in Indiana
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MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana county's health department is helping deal with a hepatitis A outbreak that's reached the county jail.

Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner told the Star Press the outbreak was detected this month. As of last count Indiana had more than 980 confirmed cases of hepatitis A this year, 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.