San Diego, Sept. 16 — Letter to the editor:
San Diego is facing a massive Hepatitis A epidemic. Seventeen San Diegans have died of this in the last few months. One this morning. Over 400 in hospital. This has been headline news in Time Magazine, the NY Times and Washington Post. HEP A is always serious, often requiring hospitalization and can be deadly. Highly infectious, it thrives in unsanitary conditions such as San Diego’s un-housed population. It can be transmitted quickly in food and in food-handling establishments among emulates and to guests. The best treatment is PREVENTION.
What can be done ? STEAM cleaning of urine and feces coated sidewalks. Vaccinations of at-risk populations, and all those in the food preparation and food service industries.
The Hillcrest Business Improvement Association should immediately use some of the more than $430,000 annual rents received as unearned income from the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market do conduct weekly steam cleaning of sidewalks in the entire Hillcrest central business district from Third Avenue along University to Park Blvd. The HBIA’s primary mission should be to maintain and present Hillcrest as a safe, healthy and attractive place of business. Unfortunately the HBIA has been too busy planning parties and opposing safe bikeways to focus and accomplish this primary mission. [If you agree, re-post this to your Facebook page and E Mail to: benjamin@hillcrestbia.org .]
Those working in the food service industry in Hillcrest should get the HEP A vaccine. Employers in Hillcrest should encourage this, and offer to cover the expense involved.
This is the County of San Diego information site for HEP A.[http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/community_epidemiology/dc/Hepatitis_A.html ]. Scroll down and there are links to vaccination locations. You may also call the County Information Line at 211.
Additionally, every Monday in The LGBT Center’s parking lot [3-7 pm is Family Health Center’s Mobile Medical Unit. They give the HEP A vaccine there. You may call The Center front desk at 619-692-2077 x 0 to book an advance appointment.
DAVID LUNDINPresident and Creative DirectorSon Appareil PhotographySAN DIEGO
