Purdue nursing expert available to discuss Indiana hepatitis A concerns

Elizabeth Richards
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Elizabeth Richards of Purdue University’s School of Nursing is available to discuss the high number of hepatitis A in the Hoosier state and across the country in 2018.

As of June 15, the Indiana Department of Health, which typically sees about 20 cases each year, has already documented nearly 140 cases. Southern Indiana has seen a recent outbreak, Hendricks County residents have been urged by their health department to seek vaccinations, and even those who dined at a pair of restaurants in Lawrence County have been urged to get vaccinated due to possible exposure.

“Hepatitis A is most often contracted from contaminated food or water or from close contact with a person who is already infected,” Richards said. “To reduce the risk of hepatitis A infection, two doses of hepatitis A vaccine are recommended. In addition, proper hand washing is vital.”

Richards is an assistant professor in the Purdue School of Nursing. She serves in several leadership positions in the field of public health, including as a board member for the Indiana Public Health Association and is a section chair of the American Public Health Association. She is one of seven individuals hired by Purdue to promote research across disciplines in public health.

Richards is available for in-person, Facetime or phone interviews and can discuss:

- The importance of vaccination.

- Strategies for prevention.

- Public health impacts of this outbreak.

According to the CDC, hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection that can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. It can cause diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, fever and death in rare instances. Hepatitis A can be spread by IV drug use and poor personal hygiene. The CDC says seven states, including Indiana, have experienced outbreaks since March 2017. 

Writer: Tim Doty, 765-496-2571, doty2@purdue.edu

Source: Elizabeth Richards, 765-494-1392, earichar@purdue.edu