Associated Press
November 9, 2004
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Health officials said it is unlikely that students will catch hepatitis A after a food service employee at the University of Kansas was diagnosed with the infection.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department gave 17 co-workers of the employee at the Gertrude Sellards Pearson Residence Hall vaccine shots Monday night as a precautionary measure, the school said.
University officials said the ill employee is recovering away from work and was on sick leave the week before the diagnosis.

Kim Ens, a spokeswoman for the health department, said health risks are “extremely low in this case” and the department is confident that those who ate at the student dining facility will not contract hepatitis A.
Proper food-handling procedures were in place when the Kansas Department of Health inspected the facility on Monday.
Hepatitis A affects the liver and can cause fatigue, fever and abdominal pain. It’s often spread by contaminated hands.