Chipolte Cyclists More Important Than Victims Of Hepatitis A To Its Hometown Newspaper
Denver is the hometown of Chipotle Mexican Grill. So, we are not surprised with the "homer"
coverage the fast food chain is getting from Joyselle Davis, a business writer at the Rocky Mountain News.
Within the same news cycle that Terry Wesley sued Chipotle for giving him Hepatitis A from eating at the Mexican fast food chain's outlet on Fletcher Parkway in Le Mesa, Ms. Davis writes a glowing story entitled "Chipotle rides onto a bigger stage." In it she makes no mention of the fact that Chipolte's Kent, Ohio outlet has spread norovirus to more than 400 while the Le Mesa, CA Chipolte is serving up Hepatitus A to 21 confirmed cases so far.
Instead, "The Rocky" has a just "slap your leg" with laughs story about how the European riders on the new "Slipstream-Chipotle" cycling team call burritos "bread." Wow, is that funny or what?
The serious part of the story, the part that could have just as well been written by the burrito peddlers public relations department, was this:
For co-sponsor Chipotle Mexican Grill, which prides itself on using only hormone- and antibiotic-free meat, the marketing deal gives the restaurant chain a vehicle to take its additive-free ethos to the world stage.
"This is a team that's very vigorous about their drug testing and keeping their bodies clean, and that's very much our philosophy," said Jim Adams, Chipotle's executive marketing director.
Excuse us for being picky, but we are far more concerned about a restaurant chain being "pathogen free" than we are about its ethos or its cycling team. Chipotle is making people sick. Its customers would also like to be "drug free," but they all have to get well before that's going to happen.
Writing about Hepatitis A, the viral infection that attacks the liver and is spread by fecal contamination of water or food, isn't as much fun as those colorful new bike uniforms "The Rocky" is so excited about. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, dark urine and jaundice.
But that's path Terry Wesley has been forced to take by Chipolte. Its a far tougher ride. Its the one "The Rocky" apparently does not want to hear, see, or talk about.

Well, if you assume that the Health Department has actually tested all employees (not likely) and that the food (as in many earlier
The San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and County Department of Environmental Health are investigating six cases of Hepatitis A linked to a La Mesa Chipotle restaurant.
transmission of hepatitis A in food borne disease outbreaks (Guzewich 1999). A review of food-borne Hepatitis A outbreaks in the United States found that in many cases the infected food handler either did not seek medical care or delayed getting medical care (Fiore 2004).
We spend a lot of time observing how various state, regional and local health districts handle the challenge of an outbreak, or the potential for one.
As that ends in Idaho, the Lafayette, Louisiana Parish Schools is confronting the same problem as one of its employees continued working after contracting Hepatitis A. KLFY-TV 10 is reporting that vaccinations will be available on Wednesday April 9th at these three sites: Acadian Middle, NP Moss at Good Hope Baptist and NP Moss Annex. The vaccines are free of charge for all students and faculty attending those schools
Chester, Ohio anytime between March 14 and 25 should see their doctor immediately.
While the risk to the public is low, lounge patrons possibly could have been exposed, David Fotsch, public information officer for the Central District Health Department, said in an announcement released Tuesday. Central and Southwest District health departments are recommending people not immune to hepatitis A who had food or a drink at the Red Feather Lounge during the specified dates receive hepatitis A vaccines or immune globulin immediately. They should also contact their health provider if they are showing any symptoms of hepatitis, Fotsch said.
Bismarck-Bureleigh Public Health says that`s because the rotavirus vaccine has only been available for two years. It must be given to a child by the time he or she is eight months old, meaning a child who is three has never, and will never get the chance to receive the immunization.
Ok, this is a familar story. Only because the names of some of the people involved has an Hepatitis A scare turned into a national story.