Jason Misner
Jun 28, 2006
Even though regional health officials say an isolated case of Hepatitis A at a local public school poses little risk of an outbreak, two immunization clinics were recently offered as a precaution.
Immunizations were recently given to specific students and staff of C.H. Norton Public School after a kindergarten student was officially diagnosed with a case of Hepatitis A.
C.H. Norton principal Pat Blake described the situation as an “isolated” incident and said there is no school outbreak of the illness that attacks the liver. She confirmed the student is at school and not contagious.Continue Reading Health officials hold two Hep A clinics as a precautionary measure

06.28.06
(HealthDay News) — The hepatitis A virus can infect both children and adults, but a vaccine is available to protect everyone over the age of 1. The virus is passed from person to person, often through oral or manual contact.
Hepatitis A is not a chronic (long-term) infection, according to the U.S. Centers for…

June 27, 2006
HAV and HEV are both forms of food-borne hepatitis. These forms of hepatitis are spread by the fecal-oral route, usually through contaminated food, water, or shellfish, or through oral-anal sexual practices. Most cases of HAV are subclinical. Symptomatic patients may experience low-grade fever, fatigue, nausea, anorexia, myalgia, and malaise, followed by dark urine, light stools, and right upper quadrant discomfort. Liver function tests are elevated, and the patient may develop jaundice and hepatomegaly.
Fortunately, HAV does not lead to a chronic infection or a carrier state and is rarely fatal. Most patients recover uneventfully after a period of rest; however, up to 5% of patients develop a protracted cholestatic hepatitis characterized by an elevated alkaline phosphatase and jaundice. Prevention measures for HAV include washing hands before eating or preparing food, after using the bathroom, and after changing a diaper or cleaning surfaces contaminated with feces, such as a diaper-changing table. Avoiding eating raw uncooked shellfish is another personal health measure than can help prevent transmission of HAV. Individuals who are exposed to HAV and who have not received HAV vaccine should receive prophylactic doses of immune globulin, which provides passive immunity for 2 to 3 months.Continue Reading Food-borne hepatitis: Hepatitis A and E

City News Service
An increase in the number of hepatitis A cases reported this year in Los Angeles County prompted health officials last week to remind people to thoroughly wash their produce to prevent the spread of the disease.
Thirteen diners at a restaurant were infected with hepatitis A in September. One month later, 19 people were infected after eating contaminated lettuce at a catered event, health officials said.
In October, there were 32 reported cases of hepatitis A in Los Angeles County, compared to five in October 2004.Continue Reading Lettuce Linked to ëHepatitis A’ Outbreak

June 20th, 2006
Jed Boal Reporting
It’s a perfect time to plunge into a swimming pool. But if you’re not careful, that cool dip can make you sick.
Many of us spend plenty of time at public pools in the summer. But recreational water illnesses are on the rise, and the health department wants us all to adopt healthy swimming habits.
School is out. Temperatures are climbing. And nearly one thousand licensed swimming pools in Salt Lake County alone are filled with people splashing around.
But, recreational water illnesses are on the rise nationally, and the Salt Lake Valley Health Department urges swimmers to adopt healthy swimming behaviors that will protect everyone.Continue Reading Recreational Water Illnesses on the Rise

June 20, 2006
The Hillsboro Argus
Public health officials in the Tillamook County Health Department and the Oregon Department of Human Services are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A that has been traced to Sharky’s Restaurant in Rockaway Beach.
Persons who ate at Sharky’s between April 15 and April 30 may have been exposed to hepatitis A and could be getting ill now, says Jeff Davis, acting administrator of the Tillamook County Health Department.
“While it is too late to prevent cases resulting from restaurant exposures during that time, this notice may help people recognize early symptoms and get a proper diagnosis sooner,” Davis said. “Household and other close contacts of these individuals may still have time to prevent illness if they act quickly.”Continue Reading Health officials investigate outbreak of hepatitis A traced to Rockaway Beach

June 20, 2006
By Leslie Jones McCloud
Post-Tribune correspondent
GARY — A fear of needles didn’t stop the administrators and food handlers of the Gary Community School Corp. from getting poked Monday.
Administrators and food handlers were at the corporation’s office to comply with a city ordinance and school policy that requires employees to obtain a health card as a condition of their employment. The health card confirms that the bearer has been tested for three contagious diseases: tuberculosis, syphilis and hepatitis A.
“I just want to hurry up and get it over with. We have to take one every two years,” Charmella Greer, public relations specialist for the district, said about getting her blood drawn.Continue Reading School workers get poked

TILLAMOOK, Ore. (AP) – An outbreak of hepatitis A has been traced to a restaurant in Tillamook County.
Health officials say the outbreak of the viral liver disease has been traced to Sharky’s Restaurant in Rockaway Beach.
Anybody who ate at Sharky’s between April 15th and April 30th may have been exposed to hepatitis A…