School opening worries parents
By JOHN GILLIS Health Reporter
August 30, 2006

No new cases of hepatitis A have been identified in the past week, public health officials announced Tuesday.

But with classes set to resume next week, some Lower Sackville parents are worried the virus could have a resurgence among children in the community.

Twelve people have been infected since an outbreak began in early June. Five of them are students at Hillside Park Elementary School.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s medical officer of health, sent letters earlier this month to parents of children at the school describing the virus and its symptoms and urging them to alert public health about any potential cases.

Officials will be visiting each classroom at Hillside once school begins to teach children about proper handwashing, and more information will be sent home in registration kits. They’ll also give handwashing classes at nearby Sycamore Lane Elementary School.Continue Reading OFFICIALS REPORT NO NEW CASES OF HEPATITIS A

Lax vaccination requirements are no excuse for travelers to endanger hometowns.
News Sentinel
Wed, Aug. 30, 2006

For the second time in two years, travelers have come back home to Indiana and created public-health problems. How often does this need to happen before the United States requires its citizens to have a full slate of vaccinations before they receive passports? How many times do innocent neighbors need to risk serious illnesses before people who travel beyond the U.S. and Canada gather a clue and immunize themselves against every vaccine-preventable disease in circulation?

In 2005, an Indiana teenager went to Romania without vaccinations, contracted measles and, after she returned, spread them to more than 30 people in her community. Tracking down this girl’s contacts and containing the outbreak cost at least $160,000. Three of the measles patients were seriously ill and had to be hospitalized. One of them spent six days on a ventilator.Continue Reading GET YOUR SHOTS

County plans shots for recent Trevi customers
by Andre A. Rodriguez, ARODRIGUEZ@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
August 29, 2006

ASHEVILLE — The Buncombe County Health Center on Monday confirmed a case of hepatitis A in restaurant worker, setting in motion plans to give up to 1,300 preventive shots to head off any chance of an outbreak.

The center urged that anyone who has eaten at Trevi Pasta Seafood & Pizza restaurant from Aug. 17 to Friday get an immune globulin shot. The shots will be offered free beginning today.

“Contacting these individuals is critical because immune globulin, a serum which can prevent or reduce symptoms of hepatitis A, must be given within two weeks after exposure,” Medical Director Dr. Susan Mims said.Continue Reading HEPATITIS A BACK IN ASHEVILLE

by Angie Newsome
August 29, 2006

ASHEVILLE – The Buncombe County Health Center will offer free shots to prevent an outbreak of hepatitis A from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and Wednesday.

The shots are in response to two cases of hepatitis A health officials confirmed Monday. The cases add to the 45 cases …

Citizen Times
by Staff reports
August 29, 2006

ASHEVILLE – Officials at the Buncombe County Health Center say they’ve given 190 shots of immune globulin to people as of 5:30 p.m. today to prevent the spread of hepatitis A after the virus was confirmed in two people, including one worker at the Biltmore Village restaurant …

by Angie Newsome
August 29, 2006
ASHEVILLE – The Buncombe County Health Center will offer free shots to prevent an outbreak of hepatitis A from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and Wednesday.
The shots are in response to two cases of hepatitis A health officials confirmed Monday. The cases add to the 45 cases Carol Schriber, spokeswoman with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said have been confirmed in North Carolina this year as of June 30.
Beverly Levinson, health center spokesperson, said Tuesday that the cases two cases are thought to be unrelated.
One of the cases, found in a worker at the Biltmore Village restaurant Trevi Pasta Seafood & Pizza, prompted health officials to urge anyone who ate at the restaurant from Aug. 17 to 25, or last Friday, to get a Immune globulin shot. The serum can prevent or reduce symptoms of hepatitis A. Those vaccinated for helpatitis A do not need the shot, however.Continue Reading Shots to prevent hepatitis A available today at health department

County plans shots for recent Trevi customers
by Andre A. Rodriguez, ARODRIGUEZ@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
August 29, 2006
ASHEVILLE — The Buncombe County Health Center on Monday confirmed a case of hepatitis A in restaurant worker, setting in motion plans to give up to 1,300 preventive shots to head off any chance of an outbreak.
The center urged that anyone who has eaten at Trevi Pasta Seafood & Pizza restaurant from Aug. 17 to Friday get an immune globulin shot. The shots will be offered free beginning today.
“Contacting these individuals is critical because immune globulin, a serum which can prevent or reduce symptoms of hepatitis A, must be given within two weeks after exposure,” Medical Director Dr. Susan Mims said.Continue Reading Hepatitis A back in Asheville

28.aug.06
The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Ashley Rhodebeck
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/15380267.htm
More than 2,600 people crowded the Allen County Fairgrounds this weekend to receive treatment for hepatitis A after a local Pizza Hut employee was diagnosed with the disease Thursday.
Anyone who dined in, carried out or ordered food from the restaurant at 5735 Coventry Lane between Aug. 3 and Aug. 19 could have been exposed to the virus, which is rarely fatal, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health said.
The health department provided free shots this weekend for patrons who ate food from the restaurant between Aug. 12 and Aug. 19. Patrons who ate food from the restaurant before Aug. 12 will not benefit from the injection but should watch for symptoms and seek medical attention if symptoms develop, health officials said.Continue Reading 2,600 get hepatitis shots after eating at pizzeria