December 8, 2005
KFOX, El Paso
El Paso’s Health Department attributes the growing potential of hepatitis A to our global economy.
Hepatitis A, like ecoli, and other food-borne illnesses are easily transmitted and difficult to trace. Health experts say that could be attributed to our global economy, and one source is the fruits and vegetables we find in grocery stores.
During the winter, some fresh goods may be brought in from around the world where farming standards are not as strict as those in the United States.
“They may irrigate with what’s called black water, which is simply sewage water,” said David Dublias, with the El Paso Health Department.

Hepatitis A is found in feces from people infected with the virus. Experts say that’s why washing your hands is so important when handling food. The same rule applies to field workers because any little trace that comes in contact with food will contaminated it, even if it’s not visible.
Ready-to-eat packages of lettuce should be washed before consuming, even if the package states it’s been washed.
“There are actually more outbreaks with food borne illness in the United States this year past year, related to produce than there are with chicken, pork, or beef,” said Dublias.
Health experts advice adding a few drops of chlorine to the water you will use to wash your fresh goods. This will help fight contaminants.
The health department says there are no reported cases of hepatitis A in El Paso, but they say it’s a good idea to vaccinate against it. The constant exchange of goods and people across the border make the potential for an outbreak higher.
Once you’ve had hepatitis A, you cannot get it again. Fifteen percent of people who have been infected will have relapsing symptoms over a six-to-nine month period.
Symptoms can appear 10 to 50 days after you’ve consumed the contaminated food. The symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and jaundice. The only way to really know if you’re infected is through a blood test.