From foodconsumer.org
Hepatitis A scares partygoers in Hollywood
By Ben Wasserman - foodconsumer.org
Mar 1, 2007 - 8:10:07 AM
If you like the article, could you please do us a favor? Just tell Google News Services that you like foodconsumer.org included in Google News Services. Inclusion in googlenewsservices means many more people can read articles like this. Thanks.
------
A hepatitis A scare in the
county
of
Los Angeles,
Cal. was originated from a cook at the Hollywood-based
Wolfgang Puck Catering facility, The County Department of Public Health said on
Feb 28.
The county health agency was noted by the catering operation
that one of its food handlers had been diagnosed with hepatitis A, which is highly
contagious, but rarely fatal.
The food eaten by an estimated 3500 people including high-profile
Sports Illustrated swimsuit models at 13 events may have been contaminated with
hepatitis A. But Los Angles Times cited county officials as saying they have
not received reports of any hepatitis A case so far connected to the
Puck-catered events.
Health officials are investigating the situation and working
closely with the management of the company to determine which patrons may be at
risk.
Event hosts and the county health department
are contacting people who ate uncooked food provided at four events between
February 14 and February 20 as they might have been contaminated with hepatitis
A.
People who ate food prepared after Feb 20 are not at risk of
the food contamination, according to county officials who recommended those who
may have been infected to receive immune globulin to prevent illness.
But the overall risk for contracting
hepatitis A is low, they said.
Among the four events, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Party on Feb. 14 at the
Pacific
Design
Center
located at
8687 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood,
California
90069 was the largest
event.
People who attended the party and
ate uncooked food there should seek medical attention to prevent the
development of acute hepatitis A by Feb 28.
People who consumed food at the other three events in the
last two weeks are being also contacted by their event hosts and the County
Department of Public Health. They are being urged to contact their physician if
they have not been immunized against hepatitis A or had the disease in the
past.
People eating food at the Sports Illustrated party should
get shots against hepatitis A no later than February 28 while other patrons
should receive it as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks after
possible exposure. The shots work within 14 days of exposure to hepatitis A
virus.
Affected patrons can locate a
clinic by calling the following information lines: 1-800-427-8700 or 211.
The affected food handler was also involved in food
preparation for nine other events, which might also have affected by food
tainted with hepatitis A virus.
But as more
than 14 days passed, those patrons may not need any shot.
Officials said pre-packed foods served at restaurants or
Express Cafes owned and operated by Wolfgang Puck or Wolfgang Puck are not contaminated
by hepatitis A.
"The company has been exemplary in their response to
this situation. Quick action on their part has minimized the number of patrons
that may have been exposed to Hepatitis A. They have been fully
cooperative," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of Public Health and
County Health Officer.
Eating foods contaminated with Hepatitis A virus results in
an illness with signs and symptoms including jaundice [yellow skin or eyes],
fatigue, fever and chills, accompanied by abdominal pain or vomiting or
diarrhea light color stool or dark urine.
"Prompt diagnosis will allow for IG to be given to
close contacts of cases and will allow Public Health to identify and
investigate cases of acute hepatitis A," said
Laurene Mascola,
MD,
MPH, Chief, Acute Communicable Disease Control program in Public Health.
Wolfgang Puck Catering employees are receiving shots and
health education about acute hepatitis A from the county health department,
county officials said.
Hepatitis A virus is spread by close physical contact and
through fecal contamination of food or drink. Close contacts, including
household and sexual partners, are at risk for acquiring hepatitis A from an
infected person. The incubation period is 2 to 7 weeks.
It is important to be diagnosed promptly so treatment can be
given to close contacts to protect them from getting hepatitis A.
To prevent spreading of hepatitis A, thorough hand washing
with soap and hot water after using the toilet and before handling food is the
most important factor in preventing the spread of the disease, officials said.
Acknowledgement: The article contains content from a new
release by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health