April 18, 2005
By CATHARYN CAMPBELL
6 News Reporter
CAMPBELL COUNTY (WATE) — Health officials say Monday there are no new confirmed cases of hepatitis A in East Tennessee. However, investigators are still working to isolate the source of the outbreak that began in Campbell County last week.
There are 15 cases confirmed, spread between three counties: 13 in Campbell, one in Anderson and one in Scott.
The director of the Regional Health Department, Dr. Paul Erwin, says he believes an infected restaurant worker is the likely source. But the employee hasn’t been identified and the health department won’t say which restaurant it believes originated the outbreak.
Investigators say they don’t believe there’s an ongoing threat in any Campbell County restaurants.Continue Reading Investigation of hepatitis A outbreak continues

04/16/2005
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Two people have filed lawsuits alleging that they were among the more than 600 people who became ill from hepatitis A-tainted green onions served at a Center Township restaurant in 2003.
Martha Funkhouser of Beaver Falls and Reginald Woods of Lake Milton, Ohio, sued bankrupt Louisville, Ky.-based restaurant chain Chi-Chi’s in Allegheny County Court, alleging that they suffered liver damage from hepatitis A after eating at the Beaver Valley Mall restaurant in October 2003.
According to the lawsuits, Funkhouser and Woods decided to sue after court-approved mediation hearings didn’t resolve their claims.
Chi-Chi’s attorney David Ernst said efforts to resolve the case were made, “but it’s their right to sue.”Continue Reading Two people file lawsuits against Chi-Chi’s over hepatitis A outbreak

East Tennessee Health
April 18, 2005
There are two new confirmed cases of Hepatitis-A stemming from an outbreak in Campbell County.
Doctor Paul Erwin the man in charge of the Health Department probe says there is one new case each from Anderson and Scott counties.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases to 11, with four more cases suspected to be Hepatitis-A.
Doctor Erwin says three victims were hospitalized and one remains there…the victims range in age from their mid 20’s to their mid 30’s.Continue Reading UPDATE: Hepatitis-A Outbreak in Campbell County

Dan Farkas, Reporter
4/16/2005
Inside Naploy’s restaurant in La Follette, a man works feverishly with balloons trying to put a smile on a child’s face. Finding any kind of smile is challenging for some workers inside.
“From a business perspective, yeah I’m worried,” said Jason Alvezois.
Normally, Alvezois says 150 will fill the chairs at his place on a given afternoon. Friday that number was 25. He says the Hepatitis A scare is making him sick for a totally different reason.
“People are afraid to go out and eat,” said Alvezois.
Even though you can plainly see the 93% grade from the Campbell County Health Department, even though there is absolutely no indication Napoly’s had a single thing to do with an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Campbell county, it and several other restaurants sit almost empty on a Friday night.Continue Reading Hepatitis A outbreak hampering area businesses

JACKSBORO, Tenn. – Health officials have confirmed that another person has tested positive for Hepatitis-A in Campbell County. This makes a total of 13 confirmed cases in the area and two suspected.
Most of the people are from the La Follette area, another is from Scott County and one more is in Anderson County.
Right…

Lee Ann Bowman, Producer
4/16/2005
The Health Department has confirmed that another person has tested positive for Hepatitis-A in Campbell County. This makes a total of 13 confirmed cases in the area and 2 suspected.
Most of the people are from the Lafollette area, another is from Scott County and one more is in Anderson…

April 15, 2005
By CATHARYN CAMPBELL
6 News Reporter
CAMPBELL COUNTY (WATE) — Health officials say Friday the number of confirmed cases of hepatitis A are growing and the virus is now in three counties.
There are 12 confirmed cases in the region. Ten are in Campbell County, where the investigation centers. There’s one confirmed case in Scott County and one confirmed case in Anderson County.
In Scott and Anderson Counties, the infected people either know a person who’s infected in Campbell County or they’ve eaten at a restaurant that’s being investigated.
The symptoms of hepatitis A include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea. People with the virus usually experience extreme fatigue, to the point where they don’t want to get out of bed, along with a high fever. Doctors say jaundice is the most notable sign of the virus.Continue Reading Hepatitis A cases increase, spread to more counties

2005-04-16
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed important declines in foodborne infections due to common bacterial pathogens in 2004.
For the first time, cases of E. coli O157 infections, one of the most severe foodborne diseases, are below the national Healthy People 2010 health goal. From 1996-2004, the incidence of E. coli O157 infections decreased 42 percent. Campylobacter infections decreased 31 percent, Cryptosporidium dropped 40 percent, and Yersinia decreased 45 percent.Continue Reading Foodborne Illnesses Continue Downward Trend: 2010 Health Goals For E. Coli 0157 Reached