THE NORTHEAST TENNESSEE REGIONAL HEALTH OFFICE IS URING TRI CITIES AREA RESIDENTS TO GET A HEPATITIS B VACCINATION. THE RECOMMENDATION IS IN RESPONSE TO EIGHT CASES OF ACUTE HEPATITIS B REPORTED IN HAWKINS COUNTY. IN RESPONSE TO THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THE COUNTY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE HAWKINS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS INCREASING ITS EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL CASES AND IS OFFERING VACCINE TO AS-RISK CLOSE CONTACTS OF IDENTIFIED CASES. HEPATITIS B IS A SERIOUS DISEASE CAUSED BY A VIRUS THAT ATTACKS THE LIVER. IN ABOUT ONE IN 20 INFECTED ADULTS, THE VIRUS CAN CAUSE LIFELONG INFECTION WHICH CAN LEAD TO CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER OR LIVER CANCER. HEPATITIS B IS SPREAD THROUGH CONTACT WITH BLOOD OR BODY FLUIDS THAT CONTAIN BLOOD.