Hepatitis A Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Hepatitis A Blog

SEATTLE (February 28, 2007) - The attorneys at Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm nationally known for its successful representation of victims of foodborne illness, are once again calling on restaurants and caterers nation-wide to vaccinate employees against hepatitis A.  The call comes after reports that an employee of Wolfgang Puck Catering was diagnosed with an acute hepatitis A infection; the employee reportedly worked at nearly a dozen events, including the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue party on February 14.

Guests who ate raw food at events catered by Wolfgang Puck Catering between February 14 and 20 were encouraged to receive Immune globulin injections to prevent becoming infected with hepatitis A. Because Immune globulin is only effective within fourteen days of exposure, today was the last day for guests at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue party on February 14^th to receive their inoculations. 

“This most recent exposure comes on the heels of other exposures around the country, and provides further support for mandatory hepatitis A vaccinations for all foodservice workers,” said William Marler, managing partner of Marler Clark. “In the first two months of 2007, thousands of restaurant patrons have been exposed to hepatitis A and have been forced to stand in line at health department clinics or contact their health care providers to prevent an infection that they never would have been exposed to in the first place if food workers were vaccinated against hepatitis A industry-wide.”

In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all children be vaccinated against hepatitis A.

“While the CDC recommendation is a start, it will be many years until the kids receiving those vaccinations become restaurant workers,” Marler continued. “It is in the restaurant and food service industry’s best interest to vaccinate all workers against hepatitis A now.”

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

LOS ANGELES — An employee of Wolfgang Puck Catering diagnosed with the hepatitis A virus may have exposed guests at several events, including Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue party, health officials said.

The risk of illness was "quite low," but anyone who ate raw food at the magazine's Feb. 14 party was urged to receive a preventive shot by Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said Tuesday.

The virus is found in the feces of infected people and can be spread through contaminated food and water. It attacks the liver and can cause fever, diarrhea and jaundice. It is rarely fatal.

The affected employee was placed on medical leave, said Carl Schuster, president of Wolfgang Puck Catering.

keep reading here

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Sports Illustrated bash for its annual swimsuit issue has turned into a health scare for stars in Hollywood after a caterer working for celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck may have exposed them to acute Hepatitis A.

The Los Angeles County health department recommended on Tuesday that anyone who ate uncooked food at the U.S. sports magazine's party on Feb. 14 get treatment by Wednesday to avoid developing the serious liver disease.

Guests at the party included singer Beyonce Knowles, former Guns N'Roses bassist Duff McKagan, portly "Borat" co-star Ken Davitian, and a slew of models.

Health officials said the risk was "quite low" and that no Wolfgang Puck pre-packaged foods or restaurants were affected.

Keep reading here.

Other Stories:
www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou020727_mh_beyoncehepatitis.349864e.html
and
www.pr-inside.com/knowles-amp-rafaeli-at-risk-of-r57206.htm

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

A mother reacts to a Hepatitis-A scare at a Roanoke daycare.

The Alleghany Regional and Roanoke Health Districts sent a letter home to parents who's children go to First Baptist daycare. The Health Department says two children there were infected with Hepatitis-A.

One parent who does not want to be identified, says it worries her because it's happened here before.

Keep reading here

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

More than 2,000 people received free antibody shots to fight off hepatitis A after learning an employee at a north Harris County Pappasito's Cantina was infected with the disease, county health officials said.

Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services had issued a health advisory for any customers who had eaten at the restaurant since late January.

People exposed to hepatitis A can be treated with antibodies, but they must receive shots no later than two weeks after exposure.

Keep Reading here

• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Parents whose children attend First Baptist Child Development Center in Roanoke, received a letter on Friday that their children may have been exposed to Hepatitis A.

The letter from the health department stated that two children had developed Hepatitis A. It is easily transmitted among young people, especially those in diapers.

The health department plans on coming to the daycare center next week to give out vaccines.

Keep reading here

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Georgia students who expect to attend sixth grade this fall are going to have to roll up their sleeves again. The Georgia Department of Human Resources board has approved a new immunization schedule for schoolchildren, based on recommendations from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Among the changes: Kids entering sixth grade will need booster shots for chicken pox and mumps; preschoolers will need to be vaccinated against a certain type of pneumonia; and all children born after Jan. 1, 2006, must be immunized against hepatitis A.

The immunization certificate required in order to attend Georgia schools is being revised based on the new recommendations. Copies of the form will be available from pediatricians and public health departments by Thursday.

Representatives from the Gainesville and Hall County school systems plan to meet with public health officials next week to discuss the new requirements and how to make people aware of them.

Keep reading here

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

HOUSTON -- More Houstonians who may have been exposed to hepatitis A at a local restaurant got immunization shots on the second day they were offered, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

Hundreds of people who worked or dined at Pappasito's Cantina on the North Freeway near Airtex Drive have been vaccinated after an employee was diagnosed with the disease.

Those that went to the center on Wednesday experienced much shorter wait times than the day before, when many waited up to three hours to get their immunization.

keep reading here

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

What is Hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus. This virus is a gastrointestinal virus. If you have ever had Hepatitis A you can not get it again.

How can you be exposed to the Hepatitis A virus?
Anyone can be exposed to the Hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool of an infected person. The Hepatitis A virus is spread by close personal contact with someone who has the infection. People more likely to have close personal contact with an infected person would be:

--children and adults attending or working in day care centers where an infected person attended or worked

--household contacts of infected persons

--eating food prepared by an infected person

--sex partners of infected persons

--persons traveling in countries where Hepatitis A is common

Keep reading here

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

A Seattle, Wash., law firm is representing a woman in a class action lawsuit against a Geneva restaurant as a result of a potential outbreak of the hepatitis A virus.

The suit was filed on behalf of Rebecca Johnson of Genoa, in DeKalb County, and patrons who dined at Houlihan's Restaurant between Jan. 8 and 19 and were subsequently advised to receive preventive shots after a restaurant employee tested positive for hepatitis A. Hepatitis A can potentially cause liver damage.

"It looks as though the quick action of the Kane County Health Department will likely prevent hepatitis A illnesses. This represents people that have experienced worry and disruption from time off work or the cost of a doctor's visit," attorney David Babcock said.

Babcock is a member of the Seattle firm Marler Clark Attorneys at Law, which has undertaken national food-borne illness cases.

• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link