SAN DIEGO — At least 16 people have died and more than 400 have been hospitalized following an outbreak of the deadly hepatitis A virus in 'America's Finest City'. <br /> <br />According to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, the Hepatitis A virus is spread through contact with a fecally contaminated environment, or person to person. It attacks the liver, and can be fatal. <br /> <br />Roughly two-thirds of those infected are homeless and/or drug users. <br /> <br />NBC San Diego reports that to combat the spread of the disease, city crews have begun powerwashing the streets with a bleach solution known to kill the virus. Street spraying has been scheduled three times a week, every other week. <br /> <br />Officials have already set up hand washing stations in areas where the homeless congregate, and deployed an additional 40 around the county. <br /> <br />Free vaccinations are also available and recommended to anyone frequenting downtown. Hepatitis A vaccines work by prompting the body to produce antibodies against the disease. <br /> <br />San Diego's precautionary efforts are modelled after those implemented in Los Angeles, where it proved effective. <br /> <br />In addition to street-spraying, installing hand-washing stations and administering vaccines, city officials are also looking into providing more bathroom access downtown.
