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

KHTS News, Sunday, 20 May 2007
Mandatory Hepatitis A vaccinations being pushed by County board Full Story

To counter legal roadblocks preempting the County from imposing mandatory Hepatitis A vaccinations for food service workers, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich’s motion to sponsor State legislations amending the California Retail Food Code to mandate such vaccinations for public health.

Today’s action follows on Supervisor Antonovich’s previous motion to require Hepatitis A vaccinations for food service workers. On May 3, 2007, County Counsel discovered that the County is prevented by State law from imposing a universal vaccination requirement for food service workers.

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Thirteen people contracted Hepatitis A after eating raw oysters in Arizona between March 8 and 25.  Full Story from Diana Suarez at Bajo El Sol

Health officials are warning people not to eat raw shellfish after 13 Arizonans, one of them a Yuma County resident, contracted hepatitis A from eating uncooked oysters at Rocky Point, Son., in March. "These cases are a reminder that there is a real risk of getting sick from uncooked shellfish, regardless of where it came from," state epidemiologist Ken Komatsu said in a news release.

"Our warning is consistent with what the state is doing," added Benito Lopez, epidemiologist with the Yuma County Health Department.
"Avoid consuming oysters, clams and all shelled seafood that is raw. That is the recommendation."

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Another person has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A in Minnesota. Last week, over 2,000 shots were administered after 3 people were diagnosed with the virus.  Full story.

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) - One person at Burnsville High School has been diagnosed with hepatitis A and about 20 others may have been exposed, school officials warned Thursday.

Preschoolers and high school students were exposed through food preparation in a preschool class at the high school, the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District said. The district said the parents of those children were sent a letter and called about the incident.

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Long Beach Island health officials are urging local restaurants to take advantage of the hepatitis A vaccine offered at the health department.  Full Story

Health officials on Long Beach Island are concerned that local food-service workers are not being vaccinated for the liver disease hepatitis A and that the transitory nature of the employees, mostly immigrants, makes doing so a difficult task.

Tim Hilferty, director of the Long Beach Island Health Department, said administering the vaccine is not a priority for local business owners.

“There hasn't been a lot of interest in the vaccine. It's not really a priority, because the vaccine is just recommended and not required by law,” Hilferty said.

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The Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health have confirmed 11 cases of hepatitis A in Maricopa County. All reported eating raw oysters in Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) in March and are recovering.  Two additional cases were discovered statewide, one each in Pima and Yuma counties.  Mexican health officials are investigating possible sources of the contaminated oysters, as they were eaten at various locations including an oyster farm, street vendors and at the beach.

"These most recent cases are a reminder that eating uncooked shellfish is the same story as with meat and poultry—if you eat it raw or undercooked, there is a real risk of getting sick with some pretty nasty bugs," said Dr. Bob England, Director of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.  Illness resulting from hepatitis A infection may include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea or abdominal discomfort, which may be followed within a few days by jaundice. Hepatitis A can take from 15 to 50 days to develop, however it usually takes about 30 days. The illness is rarely fatal, and is usually of mild to moderate severity.


“Our investigation leads us to believe that these 11 people were exposed from mid to late March,” said Dr. England. “Anyone who has traveled to Mexico during this time or subsequently and who develops the above symptoms should consult with their health care provider.”  Due to a higher risk of complications, anyone with another form of hepatitis or underlying liver disease and who ate raw oysters in Puerto Peñasco during this time may wish to consult with their health care provider.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common should consider getting immunized. There is an effective vaccine that virtually eliminates the possibility of getting hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. To avoid contracting hepatitis A, always wash your hands after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, or before preparing or eating food.

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Slayton hepatitis A outbreak update
Clinics serve nearly 2,300 people; restaurant reopens; investigation continues

More than 2,280 people received immune globulin (IG) shots at two public clinics held in Slayton, MN on Friday and Saturday after health officials learned of cases of hepatitis A illness in two food workers at the Pizza Ranch restaurant earlier in the week. Those receiving the shots were people who may have been exposed to hepatitis A through food eaten at the restaurant from April 20 through May 1. The shots, if given within 14 days of exposure, will prevent symptoms of hepatitis A infection.

The restaurant reopened Monday after management complied with all of the conditions required by health officials for reopening. Those requirements included exclusion of all ill foodworkers from working until they recover fully (and are no longer infectious), all other foodworkers receiving immune globulin shots, employee training in various procedures aimed at preventing contamination of food handled by workers, a thorough cleaning of the restaurant and replacement of all ready-to-eat foods.

No additional public IG clinics are planned at this time. According to John Schuh, administrator of the Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, and Pipestone Public Health Services, the vast majority of people from the Slayton area needing IG were served by the two clinics. While it appeared early on Saturday that an additional clinic may be needed, demand tapered off after noon on Saturday, but the entire allotment of IG was used.

People who have concerns about their possible exposure or about needing immune globulin should consult their health care provider. The Minnesota Department of Health will continue to operate a toll-free line during regular business hours Monday through Friday for people who have questions about hepatitis or the outbreak. That number is 1-877-676-5414.

As of Monday, May 7, there are four confirmed cases of hepatitis A in this outbreak: three among food workers and one in a patron of the Pizza Ranch. MDH will continue to investigate current cases of illness and any future possible cases. Additional cases of illness may yet occur because some people may have been exposed before April 20 and did not receive IG. The source of the hepatitis A is still under investigation.

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by HAV, but does not result in a chronic infection. Adults generally experience acute symptoms, particularly headache, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and nausea. Dark (tea or cola-colored) urine, light-colored feces (stool), and yellowing of eyes or skin (jaundice) may appear a few days later. Young children generally do not have symptoms. Rarely, hepatitis A can lead to very severe liver disease. Most people who have hepatitis A get well on their own after a few weeks, but may need to rest in bed for several days or weeks.

There is a very effective vaccine that protects against infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV). Careful hand washing after using the toilet, after changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food will prevent the spread of HAV.

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There have been 3 confirmed cases of hepatitis A after the outbreak at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Minnesota. The health department gave nearly 2,300 shots to the public on Friday and Saturday.  Full Story by Dana Yost from the Marshall Independant.

Three cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed, the state health department said Friday. Two cases involve employees, and a third was a customer of the Pizza Ranch, said MDH spokesman Doug Schultz. Because a customer was infected, it made it likely more cases would turn up, Schultz said.

Schuh said 1,375 shots were given as of 7 p.m. Friday. More than 900 were given Saturday.

He said health officials were given 1,800 vials of IG from the state, but were able to stretch the doses to 2,289 because doses are based on an individual's weight.

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The Pizza Ranch Restaurant restaurant in Slayton, Minnesota is being investigated after two food workers tested positive for hepatitis A.  Full story

SLAYTON, Minn. The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating a possible hepatitis A outbreak in Murray County in southwestern Minnesota.

Two food workers at the Pizza Ranch restaurant in Slayton have tested positive for hepatitis A. Test results on several other employees may be available as early today.

The restaurant voluntarily closed Tuesday as a precaution.

Slayton Hepatitis Shot Clinic Will Not Resume

(AP) Slayton, Minn. Nearly 2,300 people received immune globulin shots for hepatitis A over two days after two workers at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Slayton became ill with the disease, a health official said Sunday.

Public health will not provide additional shots and anyone wanting a shot should check with their doctor, said John Schuh, the administrator of Lincoln Lyon Murray Pipestone Public Health.

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