As state health officials investigate the source, Hepatitis A continues to spread in Florida with 119 new cases in the last week.
The new cases bring the state total to 883, with most reported incidents of the disease in Pasco and Pinellas counties. Miami-Dade (13), Broward (8) and Palm Beach (5) counties now have a combined 26 cases, up slightly from 19 a week ago. Statewide, case counts in 2019 already have surpassed those in 2018.
The vaccine-preventable liver disease is spread person-to-person through objects, food or drink that are contaminated by small amounts of fecal matter from a person with Hepatitis A.
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez has said the state “will leave no stone unturned” as it investigates the Hepatitis A outbreak. Preliminary findings in Martin County where 19 people have been diagnosed with the Hepatitis A virus this year show no common or single source for the transmission of the virus, according to a release issued Friday. State Rep. Toby Overdorf said the health department has said no food workers or food handlers in Martin County have been found to have the virus.
The Florida Department of Health says it is using local, regional and state resources to conduct an extensive investigation to pinpoint common links in Florida’s case. About 97% of cases likely have been acquired locally in Florida, the health department said.
Health officials are urging good hand-washing and vaccination to stop the spread of Hepatitis A in the state and are asking health providers to be aware of the disease and its symptoms. Hepatitis A symptoms usually start within an average of 28 days, but can take as long as 50 days before appearing. They include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, diarrhea, joint pain and jaundice.
While Hepatitis A typically clears from the body after six months, complications from the virus have been linked to three deaths in Martin County. Tissue samples from the three people who died were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further evaluation to determine the strain of the Hepatitis A virus. Health officials expect the analysis to take several weeks.
Nationally since 2016, more than 15,000 cases of Hepatitis A have been reported, along with at least 140 deaths from complications.
Meanwhile, a new emphasis on vaccination is underway. From April 15-18, the Florida Department of Health provided approximately 765 hepatitis A vaccinations to uninsured, underinsured and at-risk adults.
Dr. Paula Eckardt, Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, said she has received a visit from the Department of Health in its outreach to health providers to vaccinate at-risk Floridians. Those at risk include people with chronic liver disease, the homeless, drug users and men who have sex with men.
Eckardt said severe complications from Hepatitis A are uncommon, and most people are able to treat the symptoms. Because of outbreaks in other countries and the spread of the virus by poor hand washing, Eckerdt recommends anyone traveling abroad who has not been vaccinated, should consider it.
