FL: 2018/2019 Hepatitis A

[sharon sanders]

May 30, 2019 NATIONAL HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH FREE HEPATITIS A VACCINES Contact: Mirna Chamorro mirna.chamorro@flhealth.gov (407) 665-3374 Sanford, Fla. ? In recognition of May as National Hepatitis Awareness Month, the public is encouraged to learn more about hepatitis and get tested and vaccinated. The Seminole County Health Department continues collaborating closely with community partners to raise hepatitis A awareness and encourage vaccination. Free hepatitis A vaccinations are being offered to high-risk individuals at different sites throughout the county and are also available through the Hepatitis Prevention Program at DOH-Seminole. Please call the health department at 407-665-3019 to see if you qualify for free vaccine. The upcoming hepatitis A vaccine events are: May 30th from 4 - 6pm at the Seminole County Health Department Food Pantry located at 400 West Airport Boulevard, Sanford, FL 32773. June 4th from 9am ? 12pm at Shepherd?s Hope Health Center located at 600 N. US Highway 17-92, Suite 124, Longwood, FL 32750. June 5th from 3:30 - 5:30pm at Grace & Grits located at First United Methodist Church 419 S. Park Ave. Sanford, FL 32771. June 8th from 11am ? 2pm at Hispanic Community Festival located at Clifford McKibbin Park, 1201 W. 25th St. Sanford, FL. 32771. ?Many people are unaware that they are infected with hepatitis. It is important to get tested and treated for hepatitis early to prevent serious liver problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis and even liver cancer,? said Donna Walsh, health officer for the Seminole County Health Department. The National Hepatitis Awareness Month annual observance is an opportunity to collaborate and shed light on this epidemic by raising awareness about viral hepatitis and encouraging priority populations to get tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends baby boomers or anyone born from 1945-1965 get tested for hepatitis C. Baby boomers are 5 times more likely to have hepatitis C, which is not completely understood. Most boomers are believed to have become infected in the 1970s and 1980s when rates of hepatitis C were the highest. Hepatitis is characterized by inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States. Symptoms of hepatitis, if they are present, include nausea, fever, weakness, loss of appetite and jaundice. Hepatitis A is transmitted by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with human waste (feces). Although anyone can get hepatitis A, some people are at higher risk; such as, people with direct contact with someone who has hepatitis A, men who have sexual contact with men, people who use drugs, and people who are experiencing homelessness. Hepatitis B is spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis C is usually spread through contact with blood containing the virus. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C (HCV). For more information about hepatitis and the Seminole County Health Department Hepatitis Prevention Program, contact (407) 665-3019 and visit www.seminolecohealth.com . Mirna Chamorro Public Information Officer Florida Department of Health, Seminole County 400 W. Airport Blvd. Sanford, FL. 32773 Office: 407-665-3374 Fax: 407-665-3213 Cell: 407-717-0184 Email: mirna.chamorro@flhealth.gov Website: www.seminolecohealth.com

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.floridahealth.gov/disease...ata/index.html
Hepatitis A in Florida

January 1, 2018 ? May 25, 2019

From January 1, 2018 through May 25, 2019, 1,860 hepatitis A cases were reported.
The number of reported hepatitis A cases more than doubled from 2016 to 2017 and nearly doubled again in 2018 after remaining relatively stable in previous years. Case counts in 2019 have already surpassed those in 2018.
Counties that reported a hepatitis A case in week 21 (5/19/19?5/25/19) are outlined in black. Since January 1, 2018, 98% of cases have likely been acquired locally in Florida.
There were 92 hepatitis A cases reported in week 21 (5/19/19?5/25/19). Weekly case counts have steadily increased overall since week 1, 2018.
The Florida Department of Health is actively working to vaccinate those most at risk for hepatitis A infection. Since October 2018, the number of first doses of hepatitis A vaccine administered by both private providers and county health departments to adults age 18 years and older, as recorded in Florida SHOTS, remained well above the previous 5- year-average. In week 21 (5/19/19?5/25/19), 7,297 doses were administered. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A infection.

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.floridahealth.gov/disease...ata/index.html
Hepatitis A in Florida

January 1, 2018 ? May 18, 2019

From January 1, 2018 through May 18, 2019, 1,768 hepatitis A cases were reported.
The number of reported hepatitis A cases more than doubled from 2016 to 2017 and nearly doubled again in 2018 after remaining relatively stable in previous years. Case counts in 2019 have already surpassed those in 2018.
Counties that reported a hepatitis A case in week 20 (5/12/19?5/18/19) are outlined in black. Since January 1, 2018, 98% of cases have likely been acquired locally in Florida.
There were 89 hepatitis A cases reported in week 20 (5/12/19?5/18/19). Weekly case counts have steadily increased overall since week 1, 2018.
The Florida Department of Health is actively working to vaccinate those most at risk for hepatitis A infection. Since October 2018, the number of first doses of hepatitis A vaccine administered by both private providers and county health departments to adults age 18 years and older, as recorded in Florida SHOTS, remained well above the previous 5- year-average. In week 20 (5/12/19?5/18/19), 6,722 doses were administered. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A infection.
View the weekly report


View the monthly report











Hepatitis A cases from 1/1/18 through 5/18/19 by County




*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Acrobat Reader may be required to view these files.

[sharon sanders]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (NSF) - Florida reported 92 hepatitis A cases last week, bringing the total to 1,129 cases this year as an outbreak continues to grow, according to numbers posted Monday on the state Department of Health website.
The total is more than double the 548 cases reported in all of 2018. In the four previous years, the highest number of cases was 276 in 2017.

more...

http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/hepatitis-a-outbreak-continues-to-expand

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.floridahealth.gov/disease...ata/index.html
Hepatitis A in Florida

January 1, 2018 ? May 4, 2019

From January 1, 2018 through May 4, 2019, 1,585 hepatitis A cases were reported.
The number of reported hepatitis A cases more than doubled from 2016 to 2017 and nearly doubled again in 2018 after remaining relatively stable in previous years. Case counts in 2019 have already surpassed those in 2018.
Counties that reported a hepatitis A case in week 18 (4/28/19?5/4/19) are outlined in black. Since January 1, 2018, 97% of cases have likely been acquired locally in Florida.
There were 85 hepatitis A cases reported in week 18 (4/28/19?5/4/19). Weekly case counts have steadily increased overall since week 1, 2018.
The Florida Department of Health is actively working to vaccinate those most at risk for hepatitis A infection. Since October 2018, the number of first doses of hepatitis A vaccine administered by both private providers and county health departments to adults age 18 years and older, as recorded in Florida SHOTS, remained well above the previous 5-year average. In week 18 (4/28/19?5/4/19), 5,273 doses were administered. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A infection.
View the weekly report


View the monthly report











Hepatitis A cases from 1/1/18 through 5/4/19 by County




*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Acrobat Reader may be required to view these files.

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/prom-...tests-positive

Hundreds of promgoers potentially exposed to hepatitis A after venue worker tests positive
By Alexandria Hein | Fox News

Students at two Florida high schools may have been exposed to hepatitis A after a worker at the venue that hosted their proms tested positive for the virus. The students, who attend F. W. Springstead High School in Spring Hill, and Central High School in Brooksville, were made aware after the Hernando County health department confirmed an employee at the Silverthorn Country Club Restaurant tested positive for the illness.

?The employee may have exposed patrons between April 12-30, 2019,? according to the news release...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.wtxl.com/money/consumer/...-be-vaccinated


Taco Bell worker tests positive for hepatitis A, employees had to be vaccinated
Posted: 10:41 PM, May 01, 2019
Updated: 12:25 PM, May 02, 2019
By: Wendy Ryan

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. ? People who ate at a local Taco Bell in mid-April may have been exposed to hepatitis A.

Our ABC Action News I-Team just uncovered an employee at Taco Bell on 40976 U.S. Highway 19 North in Tarpon Springs tested positive for Hepatitis A, according to an email sent by the Pinellas County Health Department to the state.

The county also reported the employee worked at that Tarpon Spring's Taco Bell during his infectious period from April 12 to April 14.

On April 17, the agency reached out to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants to conduct a joint investigation and food safety inspection.

When inspectors showed up on that day, the state found employees were not washing their hands...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/hepa...-say/944928731

Hepatitis A outbreak spreading through Orange County, health officials say
By: Michael Lopardi
Updated: Apr 30, 2019 - 5:19 PM

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Health officials are saying the Hepatitis A outbreak is growing, with seven new cases reported in Orange County in the past week.

The county has recorded 86 cases of Hepatitis A so far in 2019, which is the third most in the state...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-c...ail/1963646237

Hepatitis A case confirmed at Pinellas County Jail
By: WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff
Jamel Lanee'
Posted: Apr 29, 2019 12:48 PM EDT
Updated: Apr 29, 2019 04:44 PM EDT

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - A case of Hepatitis A has been confirmed at the Pinellas County Jail.

An inmate at the jail is currently being treated for the disease in the medical ward, a sheriff's office spokesman confirmed. Officials say more than 2,000 people at the jail have been vaccinated so far.

Lindsey Marceau tells 8 On Your Side her husband tested positive for Hep A several weeks ago. He was placed in quarantine but has since been released.

"They ran several tests on him and confirmed he contracted Hep A and it was through food," Marceau said. "He could barely talk and I was very concerned for him. He couldn't use the bathroom or anything. He was jaundice."

Marceau says her husband told her many of the inmates are showing symptoms...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.floridahealth.gov/disease...ata/index.html
Hepatitis A?Data

January 1, 2018 ? April 27, 2019

From January 1, 2018 through April 27, 2019, 1,503 hepatitis A cases were reported.
The number of reported hepatitis A cases more than doubled from 2016 to 2017 and nearly doubled again in 2018 after remaining relatively stable in previous years. Case counts in 2019 have already surpassed those in 2018.
Counties that reported a hepatitis A case in week 17 (4/21/19?4/27/19) are outlined in black. Since January 1, 2018, 97% of cases have likely been acquired locally in Florida.
There were 70 hepatitis A cases reported in week 17 (4/21/19?4/27/19). Weekly case counts have steadily increased overall since week 1, 2018.
The Florida Department of Health is actively working to vaccinate those most at risk for hepatitis A infection. Since October 2018, the number of first doses of hepatitis A vaccine administered by both private providers and county health departments to adults age 18 years and older, as recorded in Florida SHOTS, remained well above the previous 5-year average. In week 17 (4/21/19?4/27/19), 5,121 doses were administered. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A infection.
View the full report









Hepatitis A cases from 1/1/18 through 4/27/19 by County

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.floridahealth.gov/disease...ata/index.html

Hepatitis A?Data

January 1, 2018 - April 13, 2019

From January 1, 2018 through April 13, 2019,1,359 hepatitis A cases were reported.
The number of reported hepatitis A cases more than doubled from 2016 to 2017 and nearly doubled again in 2018 after remaining relatively stable in previous years. Case counts in 2019 have already surpassed those in 2018.
Counties that reported a hepatitis A case in week 15 (4/7/19?4/13/19) are outlined in black. Since January 1, 2018, 97% of cases have likely been acquired locally in Florida.
There were 60 hepatitis A cases reported in week 15 (4/7/19?4/13/19). Weekly case counts have steadily increased overall since week 1, 2018.
The Florida Department of Health is actively working to vaccinate those most at risk for hepatitis A infection. In recent months, the number of first doses of hepatitis A vaccine administered by both private providers and county health departments to adults age 18 years and older, as recorded in Florida SHOTS, remained well above the previous 5-yearaverage. In week 15 (4/7/19?4/13/19), 5,945 doses were administered. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A infection.
View the full report

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.floridahealth.gov/disease...ata/index.html
Hepatitis A?Surveillance Data

2018-To-Date Key Points
1,239
Cases

19% cases linked
to other cases

30-39 year olds had
highest incidence

27% co-infected
hepatitis B or C



From January 1, 2019 through March 31, 2019, 690 hepatitis A cases were reported.
The number of reported hepatitis A cases more than doubled from 2016 to 2017 after remaining relatively stable in previous years. Case counts in March 2019 are higher than those seen in March of previous years, as noted by the white bar in the figure.
The 265 hepatitis A cases in March were reported in the 25 counties outlined in black. The central Florida region had the highest hepatitis A activity levels. Since January 1, 2018, 97% of cases have likely been acquired locally in Florida.
The number of reported hepatitis A cases steadily increased each month since April 2018 and remained above the previous 5-year average in March 2019. The number of cases reported in March increased from the previous month.
The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is through vaccination. Since January 1, 2018, 97% of people with hepatitis A had never received a documented dose of hepatitis A vaccine. In March 2019, 96% of infected people had not received the vaccine. Since 2006, hepatitis A vaccine has been recommended for all children at age 1 year. Hepatitis A vaccine is also recommended for certain high-risk groups of adults including illegal drug users, persons experiencing homelessness, and men who have sex with men. To learn more about the hepatitis A vaccine, talk to your doctor or visit the CDC's Vaccine Information Statements webpage.

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.local10.com/health/hepat...broward-county

Hepatitis A outbreak declared in Broward County
By Jeff Tavss - Executive Producer
Posted: 11:54 AM, April 11, 2019
Updated: 12:48 PM, April 11, 2019


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Health officials confirmed Thursday that an outbreak of Hepatitis A is spreading across Broward County.

A spokesperson with the Broward County Health Department told Local 10 that seven cases of adult Heptatis A have been confirmed since the beginning of the year.

The threshold for an outbreak is defined by five cases.

Overall, there have been 690 cases of Hepatitis A reported in Florida since January 1...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://cbs12.com/news/local/16-case...-martin-county

16 cases of hepatitis A in Martin County, six cases in Palm Beach County
by Gary Detman, Chuck Weber Tuesday, April 9th 2019

STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — Potentially deadly hepatitis A has now reached outbreak levels in two local counties — Palm Beach and Martin.

State Health Department representatives in both counties verified the existence of new cases on Tuesday.

In Martin County, the health agency announced its latest confirmed case of the liver disease, bringing the total to 16, at least since the first of the year — 11 since April 1.

“When you raise awareness about an issue, generally you start to have people pay attention, and they’ll come forward for testing and evaluation,” said Renay Rouse, Health Department spokeswoman in Martin County. “It’s not uncommon to see a rise in cases when you’re shedding light on it.”

Health experts have yet to determine the source of the outbreak. They're gathering interviews, lifestyle information and food histories from those with the virus...

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Source: https://www.wpbf.com/article/additio...ounty/27102234


Additional cases of Hepatitis A on the Treasure Coast, Okeechobee County
St. Lucie County reports two cases of Hepatitis A so far this year
13 Shares
WPBF Updated: 1:14 PM EDT Apr 10, 2019

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. ?

St. Lucie County is reporting two cases of Hepatitis A since the start of 2019.

It comes as Martin County is reporting 16 cases and Palm Beach County is reporting six cases since the start of the year.
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Okeechobee County is also reporting two cases of Hepatitis A in 2019. The county had two cases in all of 2018, according to health department officials, who are now encouraging people to get vaccinated...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.wptv.com/news/local-news...ng-total-to-16


New case of Hepatitis A in Martin County, bringing total to 16
Posted: 2:36 PM, Apr 09, 2019
Updated: 11 minutes ago
By: Jon Shainman , WPTV Webteam

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. ? A new case of Hepatitis A has emerged in Martin County, bringing the total number of cases to 16, according to the Florida Department of Health.

This is the highest number of cases ever recorded in one year in Martin County since the Florida Department of Health began tracking the virus in the late 1990s...