Situation Overview
Indiana was one of several states that experienced a hepatitis A outbreak linked to person-to-person contact in the United States since 2016. Indiana’s hepatitis A outbreak spanned from December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023. Hepatitis A usually spreads person-to-person when someone accidentally consumes stool (poop) of someone with hepatitis A or by consuming food or water contaminated with the virus. During this outbreak, hepatitis A was spread through person-to person transmission, especially among people who used drugs and people experiencing homelessness. More than half of the people who got sick were hospitalized.
Epidemiological Summary for Hepatitis A Cases in Indiana
| Demographic Information | Number of Cases Reporting Demographic (n=2678) |
|---|---|
| Total # of Cases (By Onset) | 2678 |
| Illness Onset Range | 12/1/2017 - 12/23/2023 |
| Female, n (%) | 1057 (39.5%) |
| Hospitalized, n (%) | 1512 (56.4%) |
| Deaths, n (%) | 9 (0.34%) |
| Min Age (years) | 1 |
| Max Age (years) | 94 |
| Median Age (years) | 39.6 |
| Risk Factor Information | Number of Cases Reporting Risk Factor (n=2678) |
|---|---|
| Any Illicit Drug Use, n (%) | 1375 (51.3%) |
| Any Homelessness, n (%) | 202 (7.5%) |
| Illicit Drug Use and Homelessness, n (%) | 170 (6.3%) |
| No Illicit Drug Use or Homelessness, n (%) | 620 (23.1%) |
| Incarcerated Individual, n (%) | 364 (13.5%) |
| Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM), n (%) *male cases only | 53 (1.97%) |
| Close Contact with a Case, n (%) | 470 (17.5%) |
| History of Hepatitis B (HBV)ǂ, n (%) | 41 (1.53%) |
| History of Hepatitis C (HCV)ǂ, n (%) | 624 (23.3%) |
| HBV & HCVǂ, n (%) | 52 (1.9%) |
| Lost to Follow-up, n (%) | 1091 (40.7%) |
| Vaccines Administered | First Dose | Second Dose | Total Number of Vaccines Administered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A Vaccine | 14,714 | 13,032 | 27,746 |
These data represent the number of hepatitis A vaccines that were administrated during the Hepatitis A outbreak from 12/1/2017-12/23/2023. The data excludes doses administered to children under 36 months of age, as these represent routine childhood immunizations, and are not likely associated with the outbreak response.
Total of Hepatitis A cases in Indiana by illness onset date that met the CDC Hepatitis A outbreak case definition from 12/1/2017-12/23/2023.
Hepatitis A, Acute 2019 Case Definition | CDC
Page last updated/reviewed: February 2026
