Fast-Food Employee May Have Spread Hepatitis A
WPLG Click10.com
Monday, May 24, 2004
In Miami, the county health clinic is still giving injections that prevent Hepatitis A to people who may have come in contact with an infected fast-food employee.
Injections of immune globulin (IG) provide temporary protection against Hepatitis A infection if given within 14 days of exposure.
A worker at Church's Chicken on Northwest 54th Street and 27th Avenue tested positive for Hepatitis A last week and may have passed it along to customers.
Health officials estimate nearly 3,000 people ate at the restaurant between May 8 and May 13.
Olga Connor, director of the office of Public Health Information, said as of Monday afternoon, 465 patrons were given IG injections at the health department clinic.
Lillian Rivera, administrator of the Miami-Dade County Health Department, said, "We are offering IG as a precautionary measure, in the hope of eliminating the spread of any further cases of this disease."
The Miami clinic is located at 1350 N.W. 14 St. The clinic will be open daily through Thursday, May 27 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
