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Marion County has seen 54 cases of hepatitis A since the beginning of January and health officials are encouraging residents to get vaccinated against the virus.
In comparison, the county has only registered one case of hepatitis A per year from 2015 to 2017. Marion and the State of Florida both reported an increase in the number of cases Hepatitis A, reflecting national trends.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease that attacks the liver and can cause symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, dark urine and yellow skin and eyes. It spreads when people do not wash their hands well after using the bathroom, then touch objects or prepare food for others. It is also spread through badual contact and drug use.
The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to be vaccinated with the hepatitis A vaccine. It is also important to practice good hand hygiene, including washing your hands thoroughly after using the vaccine. bathroom, before preparing or eating food, before preparing or eating food, and avoid sharing food, drinks, drugs or cigarettes.
The Marion County Department of Health will be hosting a Drive-In Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, April 27 from 10 am to 2 pm at his office in Ocala, located at 1801 SE 32nd Ave. Residents can also be vaccinated at this location during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 to 16:30.
"The Florida Department of Health is intensifying its statewide vaccination efforts to protect residents and visitors from the hepatitis A virus," said Mark Lander, health officer with the Department of Health. Marion County Health.
People who should be vaccinated against hepatitis A include:
- All children at the age of one;
- Homeless people
- Recreational drug users, injected or not;
- Men who have bad with other men;
- People in direct contact with other people with hepatitis A;
- Travelers traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common;
- People with chronic or long-term liver disease, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C;
- People with disorders related to clotting factors; and
- Family and carers of adoptees from countries where hepatitis A is common.
Health care providers should immediately report all cases of hepatitis A to their local health unit to ensure prompt public health intervention and prevent the spread of the disease among close contacts of the person with HIV. virus. For more information on hepatitis A, click HERE.
The Florida Health Department, accredited at the national level by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all Florida residents through integrated efforts of states, counties and communities. For more information, visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
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