LA Hepatitis Outbreaks Spur Vaccinations
CBNNews.com -- LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Thousands of food service workers in eateries across Los Angeles might be vaccinated for hepatitis A because of a series of outbreaks of the disease.
Los Angeles County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to look into the costs and benefits of requiring vaccination of more than 100,000 workers at 25,000 eateries, 300 catering companies and 270 wholesale producers. "We need to ensure that those who are involved in the handling of food are safe and healthy," County Supervisor Mike Antonovich said. "The public is vulnerable."
The vaccinations cost about $200 per person (Actually I think it is closer to $20). Other cities already require the shot, including Las Vegas and St. Louis.
Last month, a cook at the Wolfgang Puck catering company was diagnosed with hepatitis A. Health officials issued warnings to 3,500 people who attended more than a dozen events catered by the company, including a Sports Illustrated bash celebrating the magazine's swimsuit issue. That was among roughly 800 cases of hepatitis A in the city in the past two years.
