The Marler Clark Network

Possible Hepatitis A Exposure for Fruity Yogurt Patrons in Goldsboro, NC

Posted by Hepatitis Lawyer on December 21, 2011

Patrons who ate at the Fruity Yogurt restaurant in Goldsboro, North Carolina on December 7, 2011 may have been exposed to Hepatitis A through a sick employee.  The Wayne County Health Department announced that an employee who worked at the Fruity Yogurt on that date was diagnosed with Hepatitis A on December 14.

Wayne County Health Department is holding a vaccine clinic today, December 21, 2011 from 7 AM to 6 PM located at 301 N. Herman Street, Goldsboro, North Carolina.  Anyone who ate at the restaurant on December 7 is being asked to go to the clinic and receive a shot.

The symptoms of Hepatitis A usually begin about 28 days after exposure to the virus, but can appear as early as 15 days or as late as 50 days after exposure.  

The symptoms include muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, fever, and malaise. After a few days of the aforementioned symptoms, jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes) sets in. A person infected may also notice that urine turns dark in color and stools become light or clay-colored.

In general, symptoms usually last less than 2 months, although 10% to 15% of symptomatic persons have prolonged or relapsing disease for up to 6 months. It is not unusual, however, for blood tests to remain abnormal for six months or more.

Allentown Pennsylvania Pasta Alla Rosa Linked to Hepatitis A

Posted by Hepatitis Attorney on October 07, 2011

A warning for recent guests at an Allentown restaurant; you may have been exposed to Hepatitis A.

The Allentown Health Bureau is investigating a confirmed case of Hepatitis A in an employee at the Pasta Alla Rosa Restaurant on Hamilton Street.

While the Bureau says the employee only had limited food handling duties, they still recommend that anyone who ate at the restaurant between September 23 and October 7 receive vaccinations or immune globulin (antibodies).

The Bureau says that unvaccinated guests who ate at the restaurant during the previously mentioned time period should contact their health care provider to discuss post-exposure prophylaxis (prevention). The prevention is only beneficial if taken within 14 days of exposure. Guests at the restaurant who have already been vaccinated against Hepatitis A are protected and don’t need to take action.

The Bureau recommends that unvaccinated guests between the ages of 1 year and 40 years be vaccinated while unvaccinated guests over the age of 40 receive immune globulin.

Unvaccinated guests who don’t receive vaccination or immune globulin are advised to seek medical treatment if they begin to experience the following symptoms:

• Yellowing of eyes or skin

• White stool

• Dark urine

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

The Allentown Health Bureau will make vaccine available next Monday. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., they will have a walk-in clinic at 245 North Sixth Street for unvaccinated guests between the ages of 1 and 40.

The Bureau also requested a supply of immune globulin from the Pa. Department of Health. The Bureau will offer it to unvaccinated guests over 40 once it becomes available.

1000 Get Hepatitis A Shots in Lubbock

Posted by Hepatitis Attorney on September 16, 2011

More than a thousand people came to the Lubbock Civic Center to get a hepatitis A vaccination on Friday after a scare at a local restaurant.

City health care workers will be on site administering shots until 7 p.m Friday.

The Lubbock Health Department is urging anyone who ate at Cheddar's Restaurant from Aug. 31 through Sept. 8 to come to the civic center for a precautionary vaccination.

Early lines were more than an hour long as concerned citizens said they'd rather be safe than sorry.

Lubbock Cheddar's Linked to Hepatitis A Scare

Posted by Hepatitis Attorney on September 15, 2011

Lubbock City health officials Tuesday night warned anyone who ate at Cheddar’s Casual Cafe earlier this month they may have been exposed to hepatitis A after an employee there was diagnosed with the viral disease.

Diners who ate at the restaurant at 4009 S. Loop 289 from Aug. 31 through Sept. 8 may have been exposed, said Lubbock Health Director Bridget Faulkenberry.

The employee, who worked in food preparation, has not worked at the restaurant since Sept. 8, Faulkenberry said.

Meanwhile, the city is working to obtain vaccine to offer anyone who patronized the restaurant during that period. Information about immunization clinics will be announced when the vaccine is available.

3,000 Hepatitis A Shots Given in Fayetteville North Carolina

Posted by Bill Marler on August 12, 2011

The Cumberland County Health Department will offer hepatitis A vaccines for two hours Saturday for those who may have been exposed to the virus at the Olive Garden.

The clinic at 1235 Ramsey St. will be 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for those who worked or dined at the North MacPherson Church Road restaurant on July 31. The clinic will resume normal hours Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those who ate there Aug. 1, 2 or 8.

Fort Bragg officials have also set up on-post screening clinics for soldiers and their families who may have been exposed to hepatitis A.

The vaccine is effective only within 14 days of infection. Those who dined or worked at the Olive Garden prior to July 31 should watch for signs of the illness and contact a doctor if they get sick.

2,700 Hepatitis A Shots Needed at Fayetteville North Carolina Olive Garden

Posted by Bill Marler on August 11, 2011

Cumberland County health officials administered an estimated 2,700 doses of hepatitis A immunizations as of Thursday to people who may have been exposed at the Olive Garden.

The Health Department reported administering 570 shots through 3 p.m. Thursday in addition to an estimated 2,100 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Starting today, only those who dined or worked at the restaurant on July 29 and 31, and Aug. 1, 2 and 8, are eligible for free shots at the Health Department's Ramsey Street office. Officials say an employee who worked at the restaurant on those dates later tested positive for the illness.

The vaccine is effective only within 14 days of infection. Those who dined or worked at the Olive Garden prior to July 29 should watch for signs of the illness and contact a doctor if they get sick.

Hepatitis A Hits Olive Garden in Fayetteville North Carolina

Posted by Hepatitis Attorney on August 09, 2011

James Halpin of the Fayetteville Observer reports that hundreds of people who recently dined or worked at Fayetteville's Olive Garden may have been exposed to Hepatitis A and are being told to get vaccinated to prevent an outbreak, according to the Cumberland County Health Department.

The only confirmed case as of Monday was an employee of the restaurant on North McPherson Church Road whose case spurred the warning, Health Department Director Buck Wilson said. It wasn't known how many people may have been exposed to the illness.

But anyone who went to the restaurant on July 25, 26, 28, 29 or 31, or on Aug. 1, 2 or 8, could have been exposed.

"The most important thing right now is to get anybody that was present in the restaurant during those dates vaccinated," Wilson said. "That's the No. 1 priority."

The early signs and symptoms of Hepatitis A appear two to six weeks after exposure and commonly include mild fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine, light color stool and jaundice.  It can also lead to liver failure and transplant.

Hepatitis A - Tim Hortons outlet in Labrador City

Posted by Bill Marler on July 15, 2011

Officials at the Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority say there is a case of hepatitis A in their region.

The health authority says the person affected was outside the country for a time and is a worker at a Tim Hortons outlet in Labrador City.

Officials are advising residents who consumed food or beverages at the Tim Hortons between July 3 to 6, and who have symptoms of hepatitis A, to contact their family doctor.

Hepatitis A, an acute infectious disease of the liver, is caused by a virus that can be transmitted through contaminated food or drink.

Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, an upset stomach, diarrhea, jaundice and darkening of the urine.

Hepatitis A Cases Found in King County

Posted by Bill Marler on May 14, 2011

An outbreak of Hepatitis A in the Snoqualmie Valley has county health authorities asking people to get vaccinated.

Matias Valenzuela, public education coordinator with the county’s public health department, said his office has responded to six confirmed cases in the Valley, all in adults.

The nonlethal virus spreads easily, Valenzuela said in a press release, and it can spread through close contact with a person with hepatitis A.

The illness can spread when an infected person does not wash hands adequately after using the toilet and has close contact with others, or prepares food or drinks for others.

Shortage of Hepatitis A Vaccine Impacts Global Travel

Posted by Hepatitis A Lawyer on April 30, 2011

People travelling overseas are not able to get all the vaccinations they need because of a global shortage of the hepatitis A vaccine.

medisiner-havrix-syringe.jpgA spokeswoman from the Department of Health and Ageing says pharmaceutical companies are working to address the shortage and priority is being given to travellers.

Lisa Maguire from pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline says it is hard to say why there has been a bigger than usual uptake of the vaccine.

"It's really hard to know why there can be peaks and troughs, but we can certainly make an assumption there's been some increased travel and in turn there'll be extra need for this vaccine," she said.

"And what happens is there are a number of companies that supply the hepatitis A vaccine to the market. And if there's a supply issue with any company, that will cause a shortage."

Hepatitis A infects the liver, causing sickness for up to a month.