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March 22, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Hepatitis A Cases in Polk Increase"

Lakeland Ledger (FL) (www.theledger.com) (03/20/02) P. B1; Vash, Will

In Polk County, Fla., health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about an increase in reported cases of hepatitis A in the area.  So far this year, the Florida Department of Health has received reports of 83 cases of the disease in the county, compared with a total of 153 cases for all of last year. According to Dr. Daniel Haight, the director of the Polk County Health Department, what is particularly alarming is the fact that the disease appears to be spreading into larger groups, instead of just small familylike clusters.  In the past week alone, 11 cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed stemming from a social gathering in Central Polk in February, with one person seriously ill.  Meanwhile, Health Department officials are visiting day-care centers in Polk County and offering the hepatitis A vaccine for children between the ages of two and five.  Children under the age of five often put things in their mouths and often do not yet have good sanitary habits.

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