Mecklenburg County says it’s in the midst of an Hepatitis A outbreak.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection. Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms, including fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection. Antibodies produced in response to hepatitis A infection last for life and protect against reinfection. The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated.
There have been thousands of people reported with STD’s in Mecklenburg County for the year 2019.
139 people are reported to have HIV, 4460 are reported to have Chlamydia, and 1455 people are reported to have Gonorrhea, all in Mecklenburg County. Watch out!
STD’S are sneaky, you may think everything is fine, and then boom it hits you. Practicing safe sex is a sure way to prevent yourself from getting STD’s.
Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina:
The Immunization Branch of the Division of Public Health is partnering with the North Carolina Pediatric Society and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians for a month-long awareness campaign to help ensure that school-age children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina to highlight the importance of vaccines and immunizations.
In North Carolina, vaccination records are checked when a child enters a child care facility or a school. Children who have not obtained the required immunizations on the first day of attendance may be excluded from any school — public, private or religious — unless they have received immunizations appropriate for their age or have a valid, documented exemption or proof of immunity.
As children move into their preteen and teen years, they become more susceptible to certain diseases, making it especially important to stay current with immunizations. Preteens, ages 11–12, should get the following four vaccines:
- Meningitis Vaccine (MCV4)
Protects against some bacteria that cause meningitis and other diseases - Tetanus Shot (Tdap)
Helps prevent tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough - HPV Vaccine
Protects against human papillomavirus infection and cancers - Flu Shot (Influenza)
Recommended seasonally during fall and winter for everyone 6 months of age and older
MCV4 and Tdap vaccines are required for all children by 12 years of age.
