GAINESVILLE - Cases of hepatitis A in northeast Georgia have increased over the past year, and health officials are NOT sure why. <br>
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An epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Public Heath, Julie Wolthuis, said about 100 cases of hepatitis A were reported from January through July of this year in the 13-county health district that includes Hall County. <br>
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She says that compares to 20 cases during the same period last year. She says most of the reported cases have been in adults. <br>
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Outbreaks of hepatitis A are often tied to day-care centers, prisons or restaurants, but Wolthuis said this year's cases have occurred randomly throughout the district. <br>
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Hepatitis A is the most common of the viruses that cause liver inflammation. It infects about 23,000 Americans each year.
