California declares state of emergency amid hepatitis A outbreak

California's governor Jerry Brown declared Friday a state of emergency amid the deadly hepatitis A outbreak that has killed at least 18 people in the western US state.

The emergency proclamation will allow the state to increase the supply of adult hepatitis A vaccines to meet current needs, aiming to help control the hepatitis A outbreak in the state.

The declaration also allows California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to immediately purchase additional vaccines directly from manufacturers and coordinate distribution among people at greatest risk in affected areas.

California is experiencing the largest hepatitis A outbreak in the country. The outbreak began in homeless community in the Southern California city of San Diego in late 2016 and spread to other counties of the state.
  [globaltimes.cn/Xinhua]
 14/10/17