HEALTH DEPARTMENT HOLDS HEPATITIS A VACCINATION CLINIC

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center will hold a Hepatitis A vaccination clinic Friday, Jan. 30 at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau.

Health center officials say requests from local restaurant owners for the vaccinations prompted the clinic.

Health officials are battling a Hepatitis A outbreak in Scott County that has sickened more than 50 people.

No food service workers have been found to be infected with the disease in Scott County, and the outbreak has not spread to Cape Girardeau County, health officials stress.

"In fact, for the year of 1997, we only had one reported case of Hepatitis A in Cape County," said Jane Wernsman, assistant director of the public health center.

That case was not related to the Scott County outbreak.

In organizing the clinic, Wernsman said, health officials are trying to prevent the disease from spreading to Cape Girardeau County.

The Jan. 30 clinic is open to everyone, she said.

"Naturally, there will be food handlers and food service workers there, but the general public is welcome to come in," Wernsman said.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver, and it is spread through close, person-to-person contact with people carrying the disease or by ingesting contaminated food or water.

The best way to prevent the disease is through good handwashing.

Charlotte Craig, director of the county health center, commended restaurant owners for requesting the clinic.

"Considering the numerous ways that the virus is spread it makes good sense to vaccinate food handlers so they do not pass along the virus," she said.

The Hepatitis A vaccine is given in two doses administered six months apart.

Pre-registration and pre-payment are required for those wanting to be vaccinated at the Jan. 30 clinic.

Vaccines will not be ordered unless paid for in advance, Wernsman said, because the vaccine is not provided by the state.

The charge for children ages 18 and under is $14 per dose. The charge for adults is $35 per dose.

To register, or for more information about Hepatitis A, call 335-5653.