Health officials say risk of contracting illness is low
By Yasmin Assemi
Record Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, April 26, 2005
STOCKTON — About 1,200 students at Franklin High, Kohl Open, Fillmore Elementary and Urbani Institute have been exposed to Hepatitis A after a cafeteria worker was diagnosed with the disease Thursday.
Students who ate cafeteria lunches at those schools between April 13 and 15 were exposed to the illness, but San Joaquin County Public Health Services and Stockton Unified School District officials say that risk is low.
“After looking at the whole situation, it looks like the risk … is very low,” health Officer Karen Furst said. “But there is never zero risk.”
Stockton Unified on Friday sent home letters to parents of students at each school, district spokeswoman Dianne Barth said. More than half of the elementary school students exposed are already immunized against the illness.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus and is found in feces, according to the Center for Disease Control. It’s usually spread by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with Hepatitis A.
Symptoms of Hepatitis A include jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and fever. The disease can be prevented by thorough hand washing. Bed rest typically is the treatment for those with Hepatitis A.
Some parents are criticizing the district’s handling of the situation.
“It doesn’t seem fair,” said Ronny Turman, who has four children who attend Fillmore Elementary. “It wasn’t my fault their employee wasn’t well trained in food sanitation.”
Vaccines are available, as is an immune globulin injection to prevent contracting the illness up to two weeks after exposure.
County health officials encourage everyone to be vaccinated for Hepatitis A. The vaccine has been highly effective in decreasing the number of cases reported in the county since the vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1995. There were 17 reported cases in 2004 — a significant drop compared with161 reported cases in 1994.
Public Health Services is offering immune globulin shots for students and staff who were exposed to the virus. Shots cost $15 and will be administered from
2 to 4 p.m. daily through Wednesday. For information, contact Public Health Services at (209) 468-3822.
– To reach reporter Yasmin Assemi, phone (209) 546-8272 or e-mail yassemi@recordnet.com