Earlier this week, a food service worker in Ybor City tested positive for Hepatitis A.
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is now offering free vaccinations to those who may have been exposed between Oct. 4 and Oct. 20 at Hamburger Mary’s.
Symptoms usually start within 28 days of exposure to the virus.
Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that is typically spread by ingesting food or water contaminated by fecal matter from an infected person - or from close contact with that person.
While it’s rarely fatal and doesn’t cause chronic liver disease, symptoms range from mild to severe and can include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark-colored urine and jaundice.
Hillsborough-DOH is offering the two-dose vaccine for free at the Sulphur Springs location, 8605 Mitchell Avenue in Tampa. It’s normally free for children and $71 for adults.
Also this week, officials from the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County said they were on track to report the highest number of hepatitis A cases since 2005, with 58 cases in the county as of Oct 22.
They’re also giving out free vaccinations to county residents.
Florida has reported about 260 cases of hepatitis A since January.
