26.aug.06
Fort Wayne News Sentinel (Indiana)/South Bend Tribune (Indiana)/ Associated Press

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- County health officials were cited as saying Friday that thousands of patrons who dined at a local Pizza Hut between Aug. 3 and Aug. 19 may have been exposed to hepatitis A and a free clinic is scheduled this weekend at the Allen County Fairgrounds to administer shots to those at risk.
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health confirmed the case of hepatitis A in an employee who works at the Pizza Hut at 5735 Coventry Lane, near the Interstate 69 and U.S. 24 interchange. The employee was diagnosed with hepatitis A on Thursday, five days after last going to work.

The stories note that no other employees show symptoms, and no other cases so far have been identified.

Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan was cited as saying the mortality rate for Hepatitis A is low -- only 0.1 percent, meaning statistically only one person out of 1,000 who contracts it would likely die from it. But she stressed that the disease will make people very sick.

Anyone who has had the series of shots for the hepatitis A vaccine -- two doses -- should have 100 percent immunity, McMahan said.

No treatment exists for hepatitis A, but people who are exposed to the virus can get an antibody shot called immune globulin, or "Ig," which greatly reduces the risks of getting the disease if given within 14 days of exposure.

McMahan said the department is preparing for 5,000 to 7,000 people at the clinic, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds. Thousands more outside the 14-day window may have been exposed.

The health department also is asking all who may have been exposed to pay particular attention to hand-washing. The best way to prevent the spread of hepatitis A is to wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom or changing diapers, and before eating or preparing food.

Jonathan Blum, senior vice president of Pizza Hut, was cited as saying the infected employee, a food server, is getting better, and hopes the employee will return when able. He said the employee may have contracted hepatitis A during a recent trip to Mexico. McMahan said once the disease runs its course the employee will no longer be contagious.

Blum apologized up front for the worry the case will cause while stressing it was an isolated incident at one restaurant. The health department has inspected the Coventry Pizza Hut, he said.

"It received a clean bill of health and it is perfectly safe to eat in this restaurant," Blum said, which McMahan echoed.

The local health department has notified the Indiana State Department of Health of the situation so it can issue a statewide alert. Because the Pizza Hut sits close to two highways, it's possible people passing through the area may have eaten there and been exposed -- but be out of range of local media.

Mindy Waldron, administrator of the health department, said the cost of the shots and supplies will run about $150,000, an expense the state should cover. The local health department, however, will incur additional expenses in staffing the clinic, paying overtime and renting a facility, among others.

Asked why the department waited a day before making a public announcement, McMahan said the staff needed time to prepare for the clinic. "We didn't want to frighten people."

Erik Deckers, spokesman for the state department of health, was cited as saying a system is in place for this type of public-health concern, adding, "We all have pulled together mostly because we've been preparing for this kind of thing for years."

The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health has set up a hot line at 449-7105 for more information. Or you can visit www.fw-ac-deptofhealth.com.