Florida Department of Health Offers Free Screenings 

Naples, Fla.— In recognition of World Hepatitis Day, the Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) and community partners will be offering free hepatitis testing, along with STD and HIV screenings, to bring attention to the importance of early detection and treatment. World Hepatitis Day is July 28, 2016.

Every year, approximately 15,000 Americans die from liver cancer or chronic liver disease associated with viral hepatitis. Despite these statistics, viral hepatitis is not well known. In fact, as many as 75% of people with chronic viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected. Without knowing if they are infected, these individuals cannot receive lifesaving care and treatment. A specific blood test is the only way to know if you have viral hepatitis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.5 to 5.3 million Americans are living with chronic viral hepatitis – hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Most individuals living with viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected, placing them at greater risk for severe, even fatal, complications such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

For this reason Florida Department of Health in Collier County and Marion E. Fether Medical Center in Immokalee are proud to sponsor the following FREE events celebrating Word Hepatitis Day from July 25, 2016 through July 29, 2016.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.