FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Bill Marler
206-794-5043 or bmarler@marlerclark.com
SEATTLE (July 15, 2005) — Two East Tennessee counties, Campbell and Scott, have reported an increased incidence of hepatitis A cases for the second time this year. The East Tennessee Regional Health Department has confirmed eight cases of hepatitis A since June 25, and the Health Department is working to determine the source of a potential outbreak. In April, 2005, 23 cases were confirmed in Campbell, Scott, and Anderson counties, but health officials were unable to pinpoint the source of the earlier outbreak.
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.
“Ideally, outbreaks would be prevented by vaccination against hepatitis A,” said William Marler, a Seattle attorney with a law practice dedicated to representing victims of foodborne illness. “I’ve represented hundreds of people in the last two years who either became ill with, or were exposed to, the hepatitis A virus. Some have had liver transplants, or even died after suffering from acute hepatitis A infection.” The CDC estimates that at least 100 people die each year after suffering from hepatitis A-induced liver failure.

Continue Reading Hepatitis A in East Tennessee: Attorneys urge public to receive vaccination to prevent hepatitis A infection

A woman who asked 6 News not to use her name said she was one of the confirmed Hepatitis A cases in Campbell County.
July 15, 2005
KNOXVILLE (WATE) — Health authorities in two East Tennessee counties are reporting eight confirmed cases of Hepatitis A.
Seven of the case are in Campbell County, with one in Scott County.
The Regional Health Department told 6 News five of the cases were just confirmed this week. The first was discovered June 25.
So far, no common source linking these cases has been found. It is possible the recent cases are linked to the Hepatitis A outbreak 6 News was first to report in April.

Continue Reading New Hepatitis A outbreak reported in Campbell, Scott counties

July 15, 2005
Regional Health Department, Knoxville (WVLT) – Just about three months after an outbreak of the Hepatitis-A virus in Campbell County, many folks now are wondering if it’s spreading again.
Eight new cases since June 23rd have health officials taking a serious look at the situation.
Volunteer TV’s Kim Bedford has the latest on the cases.
Volunteer TV News spoke with the East Tennessee Regional Health Department earlier, and officials there tell us seven Campbell County residents and one Scott County resident have contracted the Hepatitis-A virus since June 23rd.

Continue Reading New cases of Hepatitis-A in Campbell, Scott

Wednesday, July 13, 2005
By Brad Wible
Los Angeles Times
The rate of hepatitis A infections in the United States has shrunk by 76 percent since the beginning of a vaccination program in 1999 targeting children in 17 high-risk states, federal researchers reported today.
The program has driven the rate of infection down to 2.6 cases per 100,000 people, or 7,653 cases, in 2003, the latest year for which figures are available. That is the lowest rate since monitoring of the disease began in the 1960s, according to the report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Continue Reading Vaccine drives down hepatitis A infections

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Cases of hepatitis A have fallen by 76 percent in the United States since children in communities with the highest rates of the disease were targeted for vaccination in recent years, a study said on Tuesday.
In the 1980s and 1990s, 26,000 cases of hepatitis A were reported to public health officials each year, a fraction of the cases that probably occurred but were not reported because many victims do not have symptoms, the study said.
More than half of the estimated infections of the disease — which can cause flu-like symptoms and jaundice — occurred in children, the study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Continue Reading Hepatitis A Cases Fall

By ELISE COMTOIS, Sun Staff
It’s only July, and hepatitis A cases in New Hampshire are already double the normal number.
Hepatitis A is a liver disease that can cause a person to be ill for months. There have been 48 cases of the virus reported this year, much higher than the normal 15 or 20 per year.
While the hardest hit area seems to be Merrimack County, with a total of 21
hepatitis A cases, southern New Hampshire hasn’t escaped the outbreak.

Continue Reading Hepatitis A cases on rise in N.H.

By J.M. Hirsch, Associated Press Writer | July 7, 2005
CONCORD, N.H. –A spike in hepatitis A infections has become an outbreak after efforts to vaccinate at-risk populations earlier this year failed to control the spread of the virus, state health officials said Thursday.
So far this year the state has confirmed 48 cases, more than half of which officials attributed to drug abuse or contact with those who abuse drugs. New Hampshire typically sees just 15 to 20 cases a year.

Continue Reading State outlines plan to deal with rise in Hepatitis A cases

William D. Marler (www.williammarler.com), an attorney at Marler Clark LLP PS (http://www.marlerclark.com) has extensive experience representing victims of bacterial and viral food poisonings. Since 1993, Marler Clark has represented victims of most of the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States, including the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli, 1998 Odwalla E. coli, 1999 Sun Orchard Salmonella, 2002 ConAgra E. coli and Chili’s Salmonella outbreaks, the 2003 Chi Chi’s Hepatitis A outbreak, and the 2004 Sheetz Salmonella outbreak.
Bill feels that a lawyer should do more than just sue corporations. That is why he speaks frequently on issues of safe food and formed Outbreak, Inc. (http://www.outbreakinc.com), a not-for-profit business dedicated to explaining to companies why it is in their interest to avoid food illness litigation. Bill also has created (http://marlerblog.com) as a way of updating the Web on issues of interest to him.

July 6, 2005
Associated Press
Concord, N.H. — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services was cited as saying that the state has seen a dramatic increase in cases of Hepatitis A, with 48 confirmed cases so far this year, up from a usual 15 to 20 cases per year.
The story notes that Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen on Thursday is expected to discuss measures the state has taken to deal with the increase and what people can do to avoid the illness.
In May, state officials said drug abuse was helping fuel the increase and urged that drug users be vaccinated.
Last year, the state set up clinics and vaccinated about 2,500 people after they were possibly exposed to hepatitis A at a Taco Bell restaurant in Derry.

From the CDC
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Adults will have signs and symptoms more often than children.
jaundice
fatigue
abdominal pain
loss of appetite
nausea
diarrhea
fever
CAUSE
Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
There is no chronic (long-term) infection.
Once you have had hepatitis A you cannot get it again.
About 15% of people infected with HAV will have prolonged or relapsing symptoms over a 6-9 month period.
TRANSMISSION
HAV is found in the stool (feces) of persons with hepatitis A.
HAV is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth (even though it may look clean) that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A.
PERSONS AT RISK OF INFECTION
Household contacts of infected persons
Sex contacts of infected persons
Persons, especially children, living in areas with increased rates of hepatitis A during the baseline period from 1987-1997. (view map)
Persons traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common (view map)
Men who have sex with men
Injecting and non-injecting drug users
PREVENTION
Hepatitis A vaccine is the best protection.
Short-term protection against hepatitis A is available from immune globulin. It can be given before and within 2 weeks after coming in contact with HAV.
Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before preparing and eating food.
VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS
Vaccine is recommended for the following persons 2 years of age and older:
Travelers to areas with increased rates of hepatitis A (view map)
Men who have sex with men
Injecting and non-injecting drug users
Persons with clotting-factor disorders (e.g. hemophilia)
Persons with chronic liver disease
Children living in areas with increased rates of hepatitis A during the baseline period from 1987-1997. (view map)
TRENDS & STATISTICS
Occurs in epidemics both nationwide and in communities
During epidemic years, the number of reported cases reached 35,000.
In the late 1990s, hepatitis A vaccine was more widely used and the number of cases reached historic lows.
One-third of Americans have evidence of past infection (immunity).