Pinellas Health-Care Workers Hit Streets With Hepatitis A Vaccine

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL -- Teams from the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County are hitting the streets, toting little red wagons filled with ammunition to combat the state's hepatitis A epidemic.

The "foot teams" comprised of nurses and disease control staff are heading out each Tuesday and Thursday with coolers of vaccines to homeless camps, bus terminals, cheap motels and soup kitchens -- all places where those at high risk of contracting the virus congregate.

According to the DOH, those highest at risk include the homeless, chronic drug users and men who have unprotected sex with other men.

DOH-Pinellas communications director Tom Iovino said the idea is to reach those people who aren't likely to come to a DOH clinic to receive a vaccination.

"We don't want anyone to have a problem getting access to the vaccine, so we're bringing the vaccine out to where the people are," said Iovino. "The only way to combat this is with education and vaccinations."

The first use of the foot teams was after a vaccination event in the Lealman area of unincorporated Pinellas in June. Since then, the teams have provided almost 700 vaccines.

The concentrated effort to combat the virus comes after the Florida Surgeon General's declaration of a public health emergency Aug. 2.

From Jan. 1, 2018, through Aug. 10, 2,814 hepatitis A cases were reported in Florida, more than double the number of cases reported in 2016-17. Since the outbreak began, 72 percent of those infected have been hospitalized in Florida and 31 people have died, according to the DOH.

Pinellas County has the second highest number of cases in the state behind neighboring Pasco County. As of Aug. 17, Pinellas County had 344 cases; Pasco had 374, with 72 new cases reported statewide between Aug. 11 and 17.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease that attacks the liver. People infected with hepatitis A are most contagious from two weeks before the onset of symptoms to one week afterward. Not everyone who is infected will have all the symptoms. Symptoms usually start within 28 days of exposure to the virus with a range of 15 to 50 days.

The virus spreads through the feces of people who have the virus. If a person with the virus doesn't wash his or her hands after going to the bathroom, feces can transfer to objects, food, drinks or drugs. When these things are shared, other people can unknowingly swallow the virus. The virus can also be spread during sex.

Of the total number of cases reported in Florida, the FDOH believes 98 percent were infected in Florida. Of those:

• 56 percent were drug users
• 34 percent were between the ages of 30 and 39
• 20 percent were homeless
• 35 percent were infected through sexual contact
• 21 percent were infected by members of their household
• 28 percent were infected through other types of personal contact

Symptoms can include:

• Jaundice (yellowing skin and whites of eyes)
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue/tired
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Dark-colored urine
• Pale or clay colored stool

The DOH has established a hotline for people who may have questions about hepatitis A. The number to call for Pinellas County is 727-824-6932.

Related stories:

Pinellas, Pasco Counties Lead State In Hepatitis A Cases

18 Floridians Dead After Contracting Hepatitis A

Health Officials Say Tampa Bay At Center Of Hepatitis A Outbreak

Florida Declares Health Emergency Over Hepatitis A