Abstract
Objectives. To identify and analyze common challenges from multiple US communities affected by the hepatitis A epidemic beginning in March 2017, and to identify operational lessons to support preparedness for similar future public health emergencies. Methods. We conducted semistructured interviews with health officials from 9 city or county health departments to collect the firsthand experience of public health responders. We collected data from January to October 2018 via teleconference. Key informants, whom we purposefully sampled, were senior public health officials who were directly involved in outbreak response or in preparing for potential hepatitis A outbreaks in their communities. Results. Several themes emerged during these discussions, including common challenges and solutions pertaining to sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, hepatitis A vaccination, health workforce availability and surge capacity, communication and stigma, and partnerships and coordination with local law enforcement and other stakeholders. Conclusions. By generating key, evidence-based operational lessons, this study can inform response activities in localities currently experiencing outbreaks as well as community preparedness for possible future outbreaks due to the presence of similar at-risk populations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S297-S302 |
| Journal | American journal of public health |
| Volume | 109 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Outbreaks of hepatitis A in US communities, 2017-2018 : Firsthand experiences and operational lessons from public health responses. / Snyder, Michael; McGinty, Meghan D.; Shearer, Matthew P; Meyer, Diane; Hurtado, Christopher; Nuzzo, Jennifer.
In: American journal of public health, Vol. 109, 01.01.2019, p. S297-S302.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Outbreaks of hepatitis A in US communities, 2017-2018
T2 - Firsthand experiences and operational lessons from public health responses
AU - Snyder, Michael
AU - McGinty, Meghan D.
AU - Shearer, Matthew P
AU - Meyer, Diane
AU - Hurtado, Christopher
AU - Nuzzo, Jennifer
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Objectives. To identify and analyze common challenges from multiple US communities affected by the hepatitis A epidemic beginning in March 2017, and to identify operational lessons to support preparedness for similar future public health emergencies. Methods. We conducted semistructured interviews with health officials from 9 city or county health departments to collect the firsthand experience of public health responders. We collected data from January to October 2018 via teleconference. Key informants, whom we purposefully sampled, were senior public health officials who were directly involved in outbreak response or in preparing for potential hepatitis A outbreaks in their communities. Results. Several themes emerged during these discussions, including common challenges and solutions pertaining to sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, hepatitis A vaccination, health workforce availability and surge capacity, communication and stigma, and partnerships and coordination with local law enforcement and other stakeholders. Conclusions. By generating key, evidence-based operational lessons, this study can inform response activities in localities currently experiencing outbreaks as well as community preparedness for possible future outbreaks due to the presence of similar at-risk populations.
AB - Objectives. To identify and analyze common challenges from multiple US communities affected by the hepatitis A epidemic beginning in March 2017, and to identify operational lessons to support preparedness for similar future public health emergencies. Methods. We conducted semistructured interviews with health officials from 9 city or county health departments to collect the firsthand experience of public health responders. We collected data from January to October 2018 via teleconference. Key informants, whom we purposefully sampled, were senior public health officials who were directly involved in outbreak response or in preparing for potential hepatitis A outbreaks in their communities. Results. Several themes emerged during these discussions, including common challenges and solutions pertaining to sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, hepatitis A vaccination, health workforce availability and surge capacity, communication and stigma, and partnerships and coordination with local law enforcement and other stakeholders. Conclusions. By generating key, evidence-based operational lessons, this study can inform response activities in localities currently experiencing outbreaks as well as community preparedness for possible future outbreaks due to the presence of similar at-risk populations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072011241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85072011241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305139
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305139
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31505154
AN - SCOPUS:85072011241
VL - 109
SP - S297-S302
JO - American Journal of Public Health
JF - American Journal of Public Health
SN - 0090-0036
ER -