IS GOOD TIME TO STAR
BUILDING ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH
ADVISORY THAT WAS ISSUED BY THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, FLORIDA
SURGEON GENERAL SCOTT RIVKEES IS TAKING ACTION. RIVKEES SAID, I AM DECLARING
THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AS
A PROACTIVE STEP TO
APPROPRIATELY ALERT THE PUBLIC
TO THIS SERIOUS ILLNESS AND
PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD O HEPATITIS A IN OUR STATE. A VACCINATION, HE SAYS, IS THE
BEST WAY TO PREVENT AN HEP A
INFECTION, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT
HIGH RISK BY THE FDOH AND
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, WHO
INCLUDE THE HOMELESS, IV DRUG USERS, GAY MEN WHO HAVE
UNPROTECTED SEX, EMERGENCY ROOM
STAFF, AND FIRST RESPONDERS. THOSE AT HEIGHTENED RISK
INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC
LIVER DISEASE, CLOTTING FACTOR
DISORDERS, AND PEOPLE OVER 60
WITH A SERIOUS UNDERLYING
MEDICAL CONDITION. AND WHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SAYS LESS THAN 5% OF
CASES IN THE STATE ARE FROM FOOD
WORKERS, EMPLOYEES AT LEAST
THREE RESTAURANTS IN PALM BEACH
COUNTY HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE DISEASE. THE GOOD NEWS, THERE HAVE BEEN
NO CASES OF HEPATITIS SPREADING
FROM A WORKER TO A CUSTOMER. RIVKEES SAID IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE VACCINATE AS MANY
HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS AS
POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE
HERD IMMUNITY. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY SAFE IS
PRETTY EASY. WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND
WATER FOR AT LEAST 20 SECONDS,
ESPECIALLY AFTER USING
BATHROOMS, CHANGING DIAPERS,