SEATTLE (June 8, 2005) — The Yuma County Health Department warned Tuesday that a food worker at the Chile Pepper restaurant, located at 1030 W. 24th St. in Yuma, tested positive for hepatitis A. Diners who ate at Chile Pepper between May 25 and June 2 may have been exposed to the virus, and are urged to receive Gamma Globulin shots to protect against infection.
“When a person has been exposed to hepatitis A, they want to know all they can about the symptoms of infection, so if they experience symptoms of hepatitis A, they can be educated about the disease when they contact a health care professional. Our site about Hepatitis A provides some of the most comprehensive information on the Web about this serious liver infection,” said William Marler, a Seattle attorney who has dedicated his practice to representing victims of foodborne illness outbreaks. (See http://www.about-hepatitis.com)

Hepatitis A is a virus that primarily infects the liver. Symptoms of infection may not appear for 15-50 days after exposure to the virus. They include muscle aches, headache, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, fever, and malaise. After a few days of initial symptoms, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) sets in. In rare cases, the hepatitis A virus causes liver failure and impairs the infected person’s cognitive functioning. The CDC estimates that at least 100 people die each year after suffering from hepatitis A-induced liver failure.
“I have called on the restaurant industry to vaccinate employees against hepatitis A numerous times. Businesses that don’t vaccinate employees put themselves at greater risk for outbreaks and for the lost business associated with putting public health at risk,” Marler added.
Marler has represented hundreds of victims of hepatitis A outbreaks, including over 75 victims of a 2003 hepatitis A outbreak in Pennsylvania that was traced to contaminated green onions, and 29 people who were infected with hepatitis A after being exposed at a Seattle Subway sandwich shop. He recently settled class action lawsuits against a Pittsburgh-area Chi-Chi’s and a Boston-area Friendly’s. The class actions were brought by people who were forced to receive preventive shots after being exposed to the hepatitis A virus. In each of these cases, class members will receive $200 or more for lost wages, medical expenses, and emotional distress.
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BACKGROUND: Marler Clark (http://www.marlerclark.com) has extensive experience representing victims of outbreaks traced to communicable diseases such as hepatitis A, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. The firm has represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness. For information on hepatitis A-related litigation, visit the Marler Clark-sponsored Web site www.hepatitislitigation.com.
Contact Suzanne Schreck
206-346-1879
sschreck@marlerclark.com