Wayne County has recorded 97 cases of the highly infectious Hepatitis A virus.  That’s one of the highest rates in the country.  As Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Jill Sheridan reports, health officials hope the outbreak may be under control as it focuses on vaccination and education.

Nearly 2,000 vaccines have been administered since the outbreak began.

Wayne County Health Department Executive Director Eric Coulter says state health department has assisted in the response effort.

“They were sending teams of staff to give immunizations for Hepatitis A in high risk areas, like homeless populations, maybe missions.”

The county also offered shots at the county’s syringe exchange and to the incarcerated population.

Wayne County Health Department COO Kimberly Flannigan says improved awareness has helped.

“Some of the parents now, when they bring in their children for vaccines, they’re asking for this.”

Indiana has recorded 450 cases and one death.  Clark County has the second highest number of cases in the state at 74. Usually the state has about 20 cases of Hepatitis A in a year.