See How Many Hepatitis A Cases Were Reported In Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ – A deadly hepatitis A outbreak has expanded in New Jersey, infecting 576 people and hitting many counties hard after popping up in some unexpected places, such as a supermarket and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Since the outbreak began last year, seven people have died, at least 448 people have been hospitalized and 576 cases have been reported, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

See Related: NJ Hepatitis A Outbreak Expands; 7 Now Dead

The number of cases has increased by 7 percent since early November, when 332 people were hospitalized, 533 cases were reported and six deaths were reported.

The disease has been identified in 21 New Jersey counties, including Bergen, which reported 25 cases. See list, locations and numbers of cases.

In New Jersey, Camden County reported the most cases at 148 followed by Gloucester with 66 cases. Warren County had the least with two reported cases.

Altogether, 576 cases have been detected since the outbreak began a year ago – a sharp, 800 percent increase over last year.

The New Jersey Department of Health says the hepatitis A cases have been observed in those without "risk factors:" homelessness, drug use, incarceration and "men who have sex with men."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also been investigating the outbreak that has hit 30 states and killed 298 people.

In New Jersey, the state Department of Health has supplied hundreds of vaccines to several health departments to immunize uninsured or underinsured individuals at risk of the liver disease, according to a department release. Vaccinations being offered at the several locations are only for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. Individuals with insurance should go to their primary care physician.

The virus is typically transmitted from person-to-person when it is ingested from objects, food or drinks contaminated by a stool from an infected person, according to the release. This can happen when infected people do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom and then touch food or items that are shared with others.

Hepatitis A can also spread from close personal contact with an infected person, such as through sex or caring for someone who is ill.

-With reporting from Tom Davis