Former Benton County inmate diagnosed with Hepatitis A

A man who was recently incarcerated in the Benton County Jail has tested positive for Hepatitis A.

According to the Benton-Franklin Health District, the man was an inmate at the jail in Kennewick earlier in February before he was transferred to a local hospital.

Once he was discharged from the hospital, he returned to his home in Grant County.

Health officials warn that Washington is experiencing an outbreak of Hepatitis A, a contagious  liver virus.

In September of 2019, a former Franklin County Jail inmate was diagnosed with the disease.

Hepatitis A spreads easily when a person puts something (food, water, hands, or an object) with infected fecal particles on or in it into his or her mouth. Even if the item looks clean, it can still have the virus on it and can spread to others.

The Health District is working closely with the Benton County Corrections Department to identify inmates and staff who were potentially exposed, and are offering vaccines to those people.

Men who were held at the jail between February 11 and 15 are asked to call Benton-Franklin Health District at 509-460-4200.

Environmental health staff at BFHD are also working with staff at the jail on post-exposure sanitation.