PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Health officials say students from Fivay High School may have been exposed to someone with hepatitis A.
Officials say a student had a confirmed case of hepatitis A after a family member exposed them.
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County said only students, faculty and staff who are participating in summer school are at risk in this case. They also said students who have not been vaccinated can go to the department's office on Little Road in New Port Richey.
RELATED: Everything you need to know about hepatitis A in the Tampa Bay area
If the students bring a letter from the school, they can get the vaccination for free.
Hepatitis A has become an epidemic in the bay area and the state with more than 1,500 confirmed cases in Florida since January 2018.
The hepatitis A virus is spread when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food or drinks that have been contaminated with small undetected amounts of stool from an infected person.
Other counties, like Pinellas County, is offering hepatitis A vaccines to the public at no cost at several vaccine centers. For more information on where you can get these free vaccines in Pinellas County, you can click here . Other Florida counties, including Hillsborough and Pasco, also provide free or discounted hepatitis A vaccines. You can click here for more information .
For more information on hepatitis A and guidelines from the federal government, visit: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/index.htm.
