Hepatitis A cases soar past 1,000 in Florida

TALLAHASSEE (NEWS SERVICE) - The number of Hepatitis A cases in Florida has now soared past 1,000.

Florida has had a reported 1,037 cases of the liver disease hepatitis A this year.

That's nearly double the amount reported for all of 2018, according to numbers posted on the state Department of Health website.

The numbers show a continued escalation of the contagious disease.

Hepatitis A can be spread through such things as food or drinks that have been contaminated with fecal matter from people with the disease.

Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated.

The Tampa Bay area has been hardest hit since the beginning of 2018.

Pinellas County led the state with 332 cases, followed by Pasco County with 277 cases. Orange County was next at 185 cases, with Hillsborough County at 169 cases.

There have been 6 reported cases in Sarasota County and 19 in Manatee County.

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