September 2006

David O’Brien
September 3, 2006
Record-Courier staff writer

Kent State University officials and local health departments are taking preventive measures against the potential spread of the Hepatitis A virus after Fridays confirmation that a male student employed with University Dining Services had the virus.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. As of 1 p.m. Saturday, approximately 270 preventive immunizations had been performed by University Health Services on the unidentified male students roommates, coworkers and anyone who came into direct contact with him or ate more than two catered meals he may have prepared between Aug. 18 and Aug. 24, according to the university and local health officials.

The male student, who was involved in preparing as many as 500 catered meals in the Kent Student Center prior to being diagnosed, lives in off-campus housing and is now healthy, according to chief university physician Dr. Ray Leone.

Officials said a second possible case is unrelated. In that case, a female KSU student suspected of having Hepatitis A was hospitalized Friday at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna, unable to eat and suffering from dehydration.Continue Reading 2 KENT STATE STUDENTS HAVE HEPATITIS A DINING SERVICES WORKER INFECTED; AT LEAST 270 IMMUNIZATIONS GIVEN; 2ND CASE APPEARS UNCONNECTED

September 2, 2006
The Journal Gazette (IN)
Michael Schroeder
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/15423857.htm

Gary Boyer, operations director at Wendy’s in Marion, still hears
comments about hepatitis A.

It’s been more than two years since it was reported that an employee
at the restaurant was diagnosed with the virus. No other workers or
patrons ever contracted the virus, and sales are healthy. But the
impression left by the episode – which prompted nearly 6,000 people to
receive immunization shots – lingers, he said.

So when news broke that a server was diagnosed with hepatitis A at the
Coventry Pizza Hut in Fort Wayne, Boyer’s heart went out to all those
working at the restaurant.

“Through no fault of their own, they are going to take a huge
financial hit,” Boyer said Friday. He was speaking from experience:
The initial effect of the 2004 hepatitis occurrence at his Wendy’s
“was dramatic and substantial,” he said. While Boyer didn’t disclose
specific figures, he said the fast-food restaurant’s sales have
rebounded.Continue Reading PIZZA HUT DOING ‘THE RIGHT THING’: HANDLING OF HEPATITIS SCARE LAUDED

Hundreds get shots; state declares hep A outbreak
by Angie Newsome, ANEWSOME@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
August 30, 2006

ASHEVILLE — As 250 restaurant goers lined up Tuesday at the Buncombe County Health Center for free immune globulin shots, state and local health officials investigated a mini outbreak of hepatitis A in Buncombe and Madison counties.

Medical Director Dr. Susan Mims said a total of four hepatitis A cases were confirmed in Buncombe County in August, adding to two others confirmed in April and July. Officials also recently confirmed two cases in Madison County.

On Tuesday, officials offered the first of two shot clinics organized after two cases were confirmed on Monday. Officials estimate that a sick employee exposed just more than 1,300 people who ate at Trevi Restaurant & Gourmet Market between Aug. 17 and Friday. They ask that those who ate there at that time go to the health center for free immune globulin shots, a serum that can prevent or help reduce symptoms of the illness if it is administered within two weeks of exposure. The second clinic was scheduled for today.

Symptoms include fever, chills, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, yellowing of the eyes and skin and dark urine. They appear about 30 days after exposure but can occur up to 50 days later.

“The state is calling this a small outbreak in a regional sense and trying to link this to other cases across the country,” Mims said.Continue Reading HEALTH LEADERS LOOK FOR SOURCE OF HEPATITIS

Each family needs to prepare now to have food, other essentials on hand.
By Jennifer L. Boen jboen@news-sentinel.com

What would you need to survive in your home for a week, maybe two or even a month? Allen County residents are encouraged to think on that and begin gearing up for a potential pandemic flu. Starting today, free pandemic flu preparedness guides are available at area grocery stores and pharmacies.

Committees organized by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health have been meeting for months to develop the guides, which include extensive checklists of recommended nonperishable grocery items, medical supplies and emergency equipment that individuals and families should have on hand.

States and counties have been mandated by federal health officials to prepare for a pandemic disease. The one most feared is the H5N1 avian flu virus, which has infected 241 people in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe; 141 of those individuals died. No bird or human cases have been found in the United States to date.

Although so far this year only nine new human cases have been reported, the World Health Organization warns slight mutations in H5N1 could allow rapid human-to-human transmission, which has not yet occurred. The H5N1 avian flu strain abroad is similar to the one that caused the 1918 pandemic flu. Also disconcerting is the fact many of the cases of H5N1 that have occurred in the past year in China have occurred in areas with no reported outbreaks in poultry. The first cases in Asia occurred in individuals who had direct contact with infected birds.Continue Reading STOCK UP NOW TO BE READY IF PANDEMIC HITS