Towards the end of the 1960’s, San Francisco was considered the liberal and hippie capital of the nation. With the hippie and free love movement, came an open and promiscuous lifestyle that went against every one of the moral foundations America was founded upon and rose to power and greatness upon. Sex and drug use came out in the open and long with them came diseases and crime.

Along with open sex and drug use, this was the era that gave rise to an increase in homosexuality and with that also came more health issues, including the rise of AIDS and other STDs.

From San Francisco, the open liberal lifestyle spread to Miami, Los Angeles Seattle and San Diego. When I went to graduate school in the San Diego area, I quickly learned that there were entire sections of the area that were known for perverted lifestyles, especially homosexuality. I was told that in addition to those areas being bastions for LGBT people, they were also known for a lot of drug use and high crime. Numerous people warned me to totally avoid those areas because of the dangers of being attacked, robbed, mugged, beaten, stabbed, all of which could give me AIDS or hepatitis, so I avoided those areas. Sadly, at least one of those areas was one of the prettiest bays along the coast, but I only saw it from the highway in passing.

In addition to the LGBT and drug users, some of those forbidden areas were also home to a growing number of homeless people. I was warned that many of the homeless made a fair living panhandling along the highways and streets, but not to stop and give to them because of their drug use, alcoholism and diseases.

That’s why I wasn’t that surprised to see a recent post about the recent near epidemic spread of hepatitis A among San Diego’s homeless population. According to the report:

“San Diego’s homeless population has been hit hardest by the highly contagious hepatitis A virus.’

“The outbreak, which began in November, has spread after vaccination and educational programs in the city failed to reduce the infection rate. The virus attacks the liver…”

“The first cases linked to the outbreak were first reported in November. As of Friday, more than 15 people in the area have died from hepatitis infections and more than 350 others have been sickened.”

Most health experts blame the outbreak on hygiene as hepatitis A is generally spread via contact with the infected feces of another person. That sounds gross, but if that person does not wash their hands after going to the bathroom, anything they touch can be infected. That’s how lack of hand washing can cause an outbreak from anyone eating at a diner or restaurant where just one worker is infected and may not even be aware they are infected. That’s how I contracted hepatitis A back in 1981, when a food handler in a cafeteria had the disease and didn’t properly wash her hands. I was one of many that ended up infected.

However, health experts aren’t wanting to admit that hepatitis A can also be spread with the use of needles of infected drug users.

Regardless of the how the homeless in San Diego contracted the highly contagious viral infection, everyone needs to be warned about the dangers of trying to help them. Just shaking the hands of an infected homeless person who has not properly wash their hands is all it would take to infect you. You shake their hands and then without thinking you later touch your hand or fingers to your mouth or nose of you handle food you are eating and the next thing you know, you are a victim.

Ever see those signs in public bathrooms, especially at stores and restaurants that urge you to wash your hands after going to the bathroom? Now you know the reason for that warning.