Australian hepatitis A outbreak still linked to semi-dried tomatoes
Hepatitis A is one of the few causes of foodborne illness that only cycles through humans – and their poop.
(1).jpg)
So any outbreak of hepatitis A means human sewage came into contact with the food (which then wasn’t cooked) or someone shedding the virus had a poop, failed to adequately wash their hands, and then prepared an uncooked food.
Either could be happening in this on-going outbreak of hepatitis A in Australia that has sickened about 130 people and appears to be linked to semi-dry tomatoes.
Victorian health authorities revealed a further 23 cases of the infectious disease diagnosed in the past week.
Victoria's chief health officer Dr John Carnie said that so far this year there had been 200 notifications of hepatitis A, compared to 74 at the same time last year.
A study into the increase of cases indicates that more than two thirds of people that have become ill recalled eating semi-dried tomatoes, he said.
Local producers had promised the Department of Human Services they were doing their best to reduce the risk, while importers of the tomatoes had also been instructed to ensure appropriate quality control measures were in place, he said.
Bottled semi-dried tomatoes in supermarkets were pasteurised and considered safe along with any of the cooked product such as in pizzas or quiches.
The greatest risk would appear to be at restaurants and cafes, where semi-dried tomatoes are served in foods such as salads and sandwiches.
Don’t eat poop. Or at least cook it.
Herpes, hepatitis A, swine flu -- beer pong transmits disease?
No beer pong? What is college life without beer pong?
Last year, some publication at the University of California at Los Angeles – UCLA – warned students that beer pong, a communal drinking game, could be a source of infectious disease like herpes.
The N.Y Times reports tomorrow that students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., are being asked to refrain from playing beer pong after an outbreak of illness that officials feared might be swine flu.
The story notes that what used to be O.K. is not anymore, as the flu has ushered in new standards of etiquette that can be, in turns, mundane, absurd and heartbreaking.
Heartbreaking and beer pong. College life is tragic.
Clean the poop off hands before making semi-dried tomatoes -- linked to spike in Australian hepatitis A cases
The Age, which is the primary newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, in the state of Victoria, reports that semi-dried tomatoes have been linked to several cases of hepatitis A.
.jpg)
Victoria's chief health officer John Carnie issued a warning on Friday evening (Friday morning here since they’re about 14 hours ahead) advising people to avoid eating semi-dried tomatoes unless they are thoroughly cooked.
"People who may have semi-dried tomatoes at home should not eat them unless they are thoroughly cooked, such as in pizza and quiche. Restaurants and cafes should also follow this advice.”
The Department of Health and Human Services has received 12 hepatitis A notifications this week and several people infected have reported eating semi-dried tomatoes.
Hep A reporting breakdown
When I was an undergrad, I used to love reading the electronic police blotter that the university police produced every night. Of most interest to me was the early Monday morning postings detailing all the weekend's post-bar excitement (like campus police called to remove "drunk and belligerent older women" from the all-male residence hall).
I didn't expect to see the same police blotter treatment after an outbreak; I didn't know that the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department would get involved.
The report [notification of a hep A positive test] normally would have been given to Cheryl Dobereiner of the health department, but she was on vacation. Also, it was filled out on an incorrect form - for hepatitis B, C or D, diseases that are considered more serious than hepatitis A. The law states that hepatitis B, C and D cases may be reported within seven days, in contrast to the more immediate 24-hour requirement for hepatitis A.
Dobereiner returned to work at Rock Island County on July 13, having been on vacation since June 23. She noticed the incorrect form used by the Metropolitan Medical Lab and called the facility.
Metropolitan Lab did not have hepatitis A on its list of diseases that must be reported within 24 hours, according to the sheriff's department report. A representative from the lab was not available for comment Monday.
Good to have Hep A on the State's Health Department's 24hr notifiable disease list (since the post-exposure shot, effective at limiting the chance of infection, is time-dependent).
It would be great to have the disease on everyone's 24hr reportable list.
Even better to have someone filling out the form correctly.
And it's hard to believe that at least 22 illnesses linked to this outbreak might have been avoided if a different person was on vacation.
Not-so-Happy Meals in Illinois
While Brad and Angelina were treating their kiddies to some McDonald’s Happy Meals this weekend (see right), the Rock Island County Health department revealed repeat violations for the Milan, Illinois McDonald’s linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak, reports WQAD Online.
Rock Island County Health inspectors typically go to restaurants like a McDonalds once or twice a year. That's all that is required by law. But the Milan McDonald's because of violations last year was told in February they would be visited as many as four times this year.
The Milan McDonald's was shut down last Wednesday after the Rock Island County Health department realized an employee was working while sick with Hepatitis A and exposing customers to the disease. (Possibly 10,000 people were exposed.) When a violation occurs it's the inspectors job to find out why.
Paul Guse the Direcor of Environmental Health said there had been violations in the past, and a letter sent to the establishment in February, saying,
"We have identified your establishment as being below desired compliance levels and posing an increased risk for a foodborne illness outbreak."
Did the health department see this outbreak coming?
Guse says, "No."
Mcdonald's owner Kevin Murphy says he did not know of the outbreak until Monday the 13th and was not told the names of the infected employees until Wednesday, July 15th after his restaurant was closed.
Restaurant inspections aren’t predictive of foodborne illness outbreaks, but they can provide information on an establishment and management’s culture of food safety.
Hepatitis A debacle in Illinois
Who knew what, when? A common theme in foodborne illness outbreak management is how was the essential information managed and responded to (whether it was knowledge of a contaminated product, linked illnesses or reporting an infected food handler). As more information trickles out about 
a food handler-linked Hepatitis A outbreak in Milan, Illinois it gets more confusing as to when the operator knew about the illness. Today a customer came forward and claims overhearing the discussion:
The woman says she was waiting in line to order at the McDonalds in Milan on June 25th, when she heard employee Cheryl Schram approach a manager behind the counter.
''She came out and she said Michelle, I was diagnosed with Hepatitis A'', said the woman who doesn't want her name used. ''I was in there and I heard her say that''.
The customer says she knows what she heard that day. ''I swear on my mothers grave''.
This week's food safety infosheet is all about the Hep A outbreak. Download it here.
Health dept: We balance public's need to know with needs of business; 20 sick with Hepatitis A in Illinois
KWQC is reporting that two workers at the Milan, Illinois, McDonald's tested positive for Hepatitis A but TV6 has learned one of those tests came back a month ago.
Even though the first case was confirmed back in mid-June, the Rock Island County Health Department didn't close the McDonald's until this past Wednesday. By then, another case had been confirmed.
.jpg)
The health department now says it didn't respond back then because it didn't know back then. The health department says it didn't find out about the case on June 9th until July 10th, a month later.
By law, the health department should have been notified within 24 hours. At a press conference Saturday afternoon, health department staff said the system broke down.
Wendy Trute with the Health Department said,
"There's a network of providers and there's a whole list of people responsible for reporting infectious diseases or communicable diseases."
The Health Department also says in addition to the two confirmed cases at the Milan McDonalds, there are also confirmed hepatitis A cases involving other local businesses.
We then asked which businesses, Trute said,
"You know what? It's not our policy to name them, nor is it the policy of the state health department. However, I can assure you we have worked with them and they have taken all the necessary pre-cautions required of them."
As far as communicating details to the public, the Health Department says it tries to balance the public's need to know with the needs of any business that may be involved.
There are 20 confirmed Hepatitis A case in Rock Island and surrounding areas, with 11 people being hospitalized.
Customer, parent outraged over Hepatitis A linked to Illinois McDonald's
There are 19 confirmed cases of Hepatitis A in Illinois, primarily in Rock Island County, and they appear to be linked to a McDonald’s restaurant in Milan, Illinois that was closed Wednesday evening.
.jpeg)
The mother of a McDonalds employee who did not wish to be identified, said her daughter worked from 11-5 on Wednesday and she then accompanied her to the Rock Island County Health Department where employees were being screened for Hepatitis A.
The mother said,
"I'm very angry. They put my daughter in jeopardy along with the public and other people."
Arnie Hanson, his wife and daughter were among the last to be served food on Wednesday evening. A manager had to unlock a door so they could leave.
"You should be able to trust who's preparing your food. It's very disappointing. … We're upset about it because not only me and my wife ate there. We also had our 11-year-old daughter. Now you're dealing with kids. It's just not right."
Over 100 sickened with Hepatitis A linked to dried tomato product in Australia
A semi-dried tomato product mixed with garlic, herbs and oil has been linked to a spike in hepatitis A cases in at least three states, Australian health authorities say.
South Australian director of public health Kevin Buckett says there have been 26 cases in the state since March, more than 70 in Victoria and an increased number in Queensland.
The cases are thought to be linked to the tomato product, which is manufactured in both Victoria and Queensland and sold in various states by weight.
Queensland Health Deputy Director-General Aaron Groves says an investigation into the possible contamination of unpackaged, loosely purchased semi-dried tomatoes is underway.
Wolfgang Puck sued for crappy bathroom
Celebrity blog TMZ reports that celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck is being sued over a restaurant bathroom.
A woman claims she just wanted to take care of some toilet business during a lunch at Puck's most famous Beverly Hills restaurant, Spago back in 2007. But according to the lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, the bathroom floor was covered in "standing pools of urine and feces" -- and the only usable toilet didn't have a lock on the door.
The woman also claims she had to use one of her hands to hold the door closed while she took care of business on the throne. But mid-squat, with her hand stuck firmly on the handle, another woman allegedly yanked the door open causing Linden to fall "face-first onto the tile floor."
Reps for Spago claim the woman is completely full of crap when it comes to the cleanliness of their bathrooms -- "In our 27 years of business we've never had an issue close to this ... that portion of the claim is totally without merit."
Wolfgang had some hepatitis A problems back in 2007.
Hepatitis A at Newmarket, Ontario Tim Hortons
The Toronto Star reports that a health alert was issued today after it was discovered that two employees of a Newmarket Tim Hortons were found infected with Hepatitis A.
York Region Public Health was notified of a case of hepatitis A at the Tim Hortons at 16545 Yonge St., near Savage Rd., on April 21. Following the initial investigation, it was decided the risk to customers was very low based on the employee’s position.
"He was not involved in food handling," said York Region medical officer of health Dr. Karim Kurji. "Given that, we didn’t feel the need to notify the public."
Oops, because...
The next day investigators conducted routine tests and offered immunization to workers. These tests revealed a second case, which was discovered on April 24. It was decided the risk of contamination to the public in this case was higher.
"The overall assessment when investigating the risk with the second case was the employee was handling food," said Kurji. "It was prudent for us to reach out to public and take necessary precautions.
York Region Public Health is holding a vaccine clinic Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the Newmarket Health Centre. People who ate food from this Tim Hortons between April 13 and April 22 are eligible for the vaccine. However, anyone who ate there between April 2 and April 22 could be infected.
Hep A happens a lot, but the way this one has been handled raises a few questions for me:
I wonder why the folks who ate at the Hortons before April 13th are excluded from eligibility from the vaccine? Does someone need to prove (with a receipt?) that they ate there between April 13 and 22nd? Who bears the cost if someone wants to get an IGG shot and is excluded? What happens if that individual gets sick?
This week's food safety infosheet was about Hep A in a produce handler in Colorado.
New food safety infosheet: Hepatitis A in staff member at Littleton, CO grocery store
This week's food safety infosheet focuses on a Hep A incident that arose over the weekend. A staff member responsible for handling and preparing produce in a Colorado Albertson's was found to have Hepatitis A.
Food safety infosheet highlights:
-Albertsons shoppers may have been exposed to virus between April 6 and April 21, 2009.
-Transmission of Hepatitis A happens through the fecal-oral route.
-Virus-containing poop remaining on hands after using the toilet is a risk.
You can download the food safety infosheet here.
Food safety infosheets are created weekly and are posted in restaurants, retail stores, on farms and used in training throughout the world. If you have any infosheet topic requests, or photos, please contact Ben Chapman at benjamin_chapman@ncsu.edu.
You can follow food safety infosheets stories and barfblog on twitter @benjaminchapman and @barfblog.
Albertsons customers face hepatitis threat
The Denver Post reports that people who have eaten store-prepared produce from an Albertsons in Littleton, Colorado, recently could face shots because a store employee has tested positive for hepatitis A.
The Tri-County Health Department said the warning applies specifically to those who have bought green onions, celery that has had the leaves trimmed, any lettuce that was not pre-bagged, any pre-cut watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew melon.
"The employee followed good hand hygiene practices and wore gloves," said Dr. Richard L. Vogt, executive Director of Tri-County Health Department.
For more information call the health department at 303-846-2006 or Albertsons at 1-877-932-7948. Information also is available on the health department website, www.tchd.org.
Hepatitis A outbreaks in Australia
A 22-year-old woman who helped prepare food at two catered events was diagnosed with hepatitis A in March, meaning that more than 200 people at one corporate event and about 100 at a second event, along with co-workers and roommates, had to be vaccinated.
South Australia Health refused to release any specific details, but did note there was an unrelated but "significant" increase in hepatitis A cases in SA and Victoria in a separate outbreak.
SA Health Communicable Disease Control Branch director Dr Ann Koehler said,
"We think it is probably a vegetable, but we just don't know yet."
Spanish soccer star Sisi sidelined with hepatitis A
It’s Oscar time and I can’t wait to see which celebrities have to get vaccinated for hepatitis A this year after the parties. But until Sunday, soccer seems to be the source of reminders to get vaccinated against hepatitis A, which is transmitted via human poop.
RC Recreativo de Huelva are set to be without Spain Under-21 midfielder Sisi (right) for at least the next six weeks after the 22-year-old was diagnosed with hepatitis A.
Sisi is not the first U21 international to contract hepatitis A this year. Germany's Ashkan Dejagah was diagnosed with the same condition in early February and his club – VfL Wolfsburg – are resigned to losing him for a "very long time".
Hepatitis A at Ohio high school
Students at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio may have become infected with Hepatitis A after a cafeteria worker at the school was diagnosed as being infected with the virus, reports the Toledo Blade.
.jpg)
The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department encourages students who ate food prepared in the school's cafeteria between Jan. 6 and Jan. 30, and who have not already been vaccinated, to see a doctor and get the immunization.
The risk of acquiring Hepatitis A is greatly reduced for students who already have been vaccinated with the vaccine, completed the series, or previously had Hepatitis A. The vaccination should be given on or before next Friday to be most effective.
Hepatitis A is found in feces of the infected person and can be spread by direct contact with food, beverages or crockery. An infected food handler may not know they are ill, as symptoms often do not present until 2 to 6 weeks after infection. Proper hand washing reduces the spread of illness. Symptoms of illness include nausea, yellow skin, fatigue, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.
Hepatitis A outbreaks are common among food establishments. There’s even a section of barfblog devoted to them.
Soccer star Dejagah hospitalized with hepatitis A
VfL Wolfsburg's German Under-21 international Ashkan Dejagah is facing a "very long time" on the sidelines after being admitted to a specialist hospital in Hamburg to undergo treatment for hepatitis A.
Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said,
"It is very unfortunate and he will be sidelined for a very long time. We wish him the swiftest of recoveries."
No word on how the virus was contracted – food, water or otherwise.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A or you'll rue the day
Real Genius was a 1985 fluff film notable for some witty banter, bunny slippers, and that actor Val Kilmer, in the role of science whiz Chris Knight, once had a sense of humor. Like this scene, right:
Dr. Dodd: Why is that toy on your head?
Chris Knight: Because if I wear it any place else, it chafes.
And I wish I’d remembered this classic when Amy was pregnant. I had so many opportunities to use it:
Chris Knight: Do you mind if I name my first child after you? "Dipshit Knight" has a nice ring to it.
I was struck with nostalgia when I read the headline in Canada’s North Bay Nugget this morning, Victim rues not getting vaccinated.
I looked at Amy and said, “You’ll rue the day. Who talks like that? Where’s that line from?”
“I don’t know.”
Then I used a tool my students finally taught me to use a few years ago. It’s called Google. And there it was:
[Kent opens his dorm room door to find his car inside]
Chris Knight: Hey Kent... That's your car.
Mitch: Kent, you know you're not supposed to park that on campus.
Kent: You've gone too far this time, Knight.
Chris Knight: [whiny, scared voice] I had help!
[points to Mitch]
Kent: You, huh? Well you won't get away with this. Doctor Hathaway's gonna hear all about this. You'll rue the day!
Chris Knight: "Rue the day?" Who talks like that?
And rather than rue the day, get vaccinated for hepatitis A before going to the Dominican Republic. Or you may cause a health scare where you bartend.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit announced Wednesday there was one case of hepatitis A in the city. Officials advised patrons who had visited the bar Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 4, 10 or 11 to watch for symptoms associated with the virus and contact their health-care providers.
And some more of the witty 1985 banter:
Chris Knight: Sir, let me take this moment to compliment you on your fashion sense, particularly your slippers.
Kent: Uh, I'll catch up with you guys. I have to go to the bathroom.
Chris Knight: Okay, Kent, but I don't think that's going to help your confidence any, do you?
Professor Hathaway: I want to see more of you around the lab.
Chris Knight: Fine. I'll gain weight.
Chris Knight: Kent puts his name on his license plate.
Mitch: My mom does the same thing to my underwear.
Chris Knight: Your mom puts license plates in your underwear? How do you sit?
Don't eat poop: Hepatitis A alert for Toronto sushi restaurant
Toronto Public Health has identified a case of Hepatitis A in a food handler at Sushi Haru located at 635 College Street at Grace Street in Toronto. Anyone who consumed food from this restaurant on the following dates may have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus: September 30; October 1 to 3; or October 6 to 10. …
If you ate at Sushi Haru on October 9, you may still benefit from receiving a vaccination to prevent Hepatitis A infection. The vaccine is effective for up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus. Today is the last day that the vaccine would be effective. Call your doctor to get the vaccine, or go to a walk-in clinic.
A Fact Sheet on Hepatitis A is available at www.toronto.ca/health.
Food safety in pregnancy is not simple
Yesterday I enjoyed an aperitif at Houlihan’s with my friend Angélique. Although the conversation was excellent, ordering was complicated for me. I wasn’t supposed to eat at least half of the items offered, and another third of them didn’t sound good to me. Pregnancy food safety guidelines combined with changing tastes and sensitivity to smells make ordering very difficult. On our trip home from Australia on Sunday, for example, I wanted to grab a sandwich at LAX, and because we were at a deli, that left only one choice for me: a chicken Panini. Everything else had unheated deli meat – known to put me at risk for listeria.
At Houlihan’s, I used to enjoy the tuna wontons, but the tuna is only seared and I don’t trust raw fish right now. I couldn’t eat the very appetizing brie starter because the waitress didn’t think it was heated, and the bruschetta that we did share was a big question mark for me. It had goat’s cheese together with the tomato mix. We now know that tomatoes are all supposedly safe from Salmonella, but how safe was the cheese? I take at least a little comfort in knowing that I’ve been fully vaccinated against Hepatitis A thanks to my past wild travels. Angélique and I also shared a spinach and artichoke dip that came with fresh cilantro and scallions sprinkled all over the chips. I grow my own cilantro at home and know how hard it is to keep it clean and out of the snails’ reach …
Finally, very hungry, I just ate and tried to ignore the smaller risk factors. I did my best but I still didn’t feel confident that my food was safe. Who knows or can control what was happening in the kitchen?
For those who want to tell me, and every pregnant woman, how simple it is to eat safely during pregnancy, I beg to differ. See “Listeria warning for pregnant women” for example. Dr. Paul McKeown says, “Simple measures such as ensuring that the fridge is in good working order with the temperature between two and five degrees Celsius, eating food that is well within its use-by date so that harmful bugs will not have had time to grow and practising good general food hygiene will reduce the risk of listeriosis.”
We, as consumers, can reduce some of the risks but we cannot eliminate them. And I find that the more I know about food safety, the more complicated all of this becomes. When you’re hungry and the airline offers you a roll with cheddar and pastrami … and you ask your food safety expert partner, “if I pick off the pastrami, is the sandwich safe to eat and how much cross contamination might have taken place?” and he shrugs … sometimes you have to decide for yourself.
.jpg)
Hepatitis A concerns at Detroit Papa Romano's
Hopefully the employee practiced excellent handwashing so the hepatitis A virus, found in the employee's poop, didn’t make its way to a salad or roll.Dude wash your damn hands. And don't eat poop.
Hepatitis linked to Melbourne café
Victoria's Department of Human Services said the outbreak has been linked to a food handler who also worked part time as a cleaner.
A 65-year-old man from Doncaster, a 32-year-old woman from Reservoir, a 51-year-old man from East Malvern and a 54-year-old man from Aspendale were among those affected. The department was notified of a fifth case on Friday afternoon.
An extensive clean up of the cafe had been carried out under the supervision of Melbourne City Council.
Hepatitis A is found in feces of the infected person and can be spread by direct contact with food, beverages or crockery.
Dude wash your damn hands. And don't eat poop.
Chipotle hep A climbs to 14
With 14 cases and so far no employee testing for any signs of Hep A, I wonder if this outbreak is
linked to a common food vehicle from a supplier, or one mixed/prepared in store. Wonder if there has been a spike in what is thought to be sporadic Hep A cases associated with other outlets suppliers sent product to.Hepatitis A illnesses linked to San Diego Chipotle now at 12
.jpg)
The County recommends that individuals who dined at the restaurant between March 1 and April 22, 2008 -- and are symptomatic for Hepatitis A -- see their physician to be screened for the illness.Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County of San Diego Public Health Officer, said,
“Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable illness. The key to prevention also includes appropriate and frequent hand-washing."
Monty Moran, president and chief operating officer of Chipotle, said,
“We continue to partner with the County of San Diego as they investigate the cause of this illness. Employees tested to date have been negative for Hepatitis A. Our restaurant has received ‘A’ ratings in all five inspections in the last five months.”
Keep poop out of food. Wash your damn hands.
.jpeg)
San Diego Chipotle linked to hepatitis A outbreak
Hepatitis A is a result of poor hygiene. Health officials say that victims are exposed when an individual consumes water or food contaminated with the stool of someone with the virus.These hepatitis A cases are a weekly occurrence in the U.S. A food worker parties in Mexico or the Dominican or Honduras, where hepatitis A is endemic. Food worker comes home, is fine for two weeks, then spends the next two weeks crapping out virus. And unless food worker is really diligent about handwashing, she's spreading virus-containing poop on food -- especially fresh produce or salads. After four weeks, food worker turns yellow and goes to the doctor where a diagnosis is made. Then the clinics start. In this case, a food worker has not been identified as the source -- yet.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A. And dude, wash your damn hands.
Is it hepatitis A day and no one told me?
Cincinnati, OH:
A food handler at a PF Chang's restaurant in West Chester, OH was diagnosed with hepatitis A earlier this week, and today there was a report of the vaccination clinic running out vaccine and sending exposed individuals to an urgent care facility as a back up (resulting in wait times upwards of three hours).
Boise, ID:
Nearly 300 people were vaccinated for hepatitis A at Boise's Central District Health this past week.
The rush came after a health scare at the Red Feather Lounge where an employee confirmed infected with the virus
New Zealand:
An orchard worker was found to have hepatitis A and was sent home to the Solomon Islands.
The fruitpicker, who was working at Apollo Pac in Whakatu for the season, was referred to the Hawke's Bay District Health Board's (DHB's) public health unit with the symptoms of Hepatitis A, including nausea and jaundice. The DHB's medical officer of health Caroline McElnay was cited as saying 23 people who had been living in close quarters with the person had also been screened for the disease and given an injection of antibodies for temporary protection.
Happy hep A day.
New International Food Safety Network Infosheet -- Brazillian soccer club hit with hepatitis A
authorities are linking the outbreak to shared water bottles (they must have been contaminated with some nasty poop).You can download the infosheet here.
Brazilian soccer team Internacional hit with hepatitis A outbreak
The team said the liver disease probably spread from player to player in the locker room, most likely through shared water bottles.Except hepatitis A is not spread by saliva; it's spread by poop. So there was either poop on the water bottles -- possibly from someone's hand -- or poop in the water.
Or the water bottle theory is wrong.
Internacional is a former club world champion.
Fancy food doesn't mean safe food -- Socialista edition
.jpg)
James Trinko, 29, received a vaccination Saturday and said, "I just can't believe that in a restaurant as fancy as it was, that they would have this problem. It's kind of a pain in the butt to come out here and deal with this." But "you have to do it."
The story says that hepatitis A virus is found in fecal matter. If someone with the disease doesn't wash his or her hands properly and handles food or drinks, the virus can be spread.
Health department spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti said the Socialista bartender, whose name was not released, handled glasses and garnishes, and there was no soap behind the bar.
Keep the hepatitis A poop off your hands -- and Oscar party platters
Madonna, fresh from potentially being exposed to hepatitis A at Ashton Kutcher's 30th birthday party on Feb. 7, has stepped up and put together a 'last minute' party with the help of her manager, Guy Oseary, and pal Demi Moore.Hope Madge and Demi will have all the servers screened for the hepatitis A virus.
Hepatitis A is a relatively rare disease spread by putting something in one's mouth that has been contaminated with traces of fecal matter.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A. And dude, wash your damn hands.
Don't eat poop.
Celebrities line up for Hepatitis A shots in New York
Last week it was a Wegman's supermarket in New York. Last year it was Beyonce at a Wolfgang Puck catered Sports Illustrated party. This time, it's Ashton Kutcher's 30th birthday party on Feb. 7 where A-list celebrities such as Demi Moore, Madonna, Ivanka Trump, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Roberto Cavalli and Liv Tyler, who all attended, are now being asked to get immunoglobin shots to ward off hepatitis A.Apparently a bartender at Socialista, some fancy club where the birthday bash was held, was discovered to be carrying hepatitis A earlier this week, and when city health department officials inspected the bar they discovered that it lacked hand-washing soap.
One story gave a new twist to the oral-fecal route description we usually use:
According to the health department, hepatitis A is a relatively rare disease spread by putting something in one's mouth that has been contaminated with traces of fecal matter.
Don't eat poop.
The day manager who answered the phone at Socialista this afternoon told the Health Blog that the bartender apparently got hepatitis on a recent vacation to Honduras, and just found out he had the bug.These hepatitis A cases are a weekly occurrence in the U.S. A food worker (bartender) parties in Mexico or the Dominican or in this case, Honduras, where hepatitis A is endemic. Food worker (bartender) comes home, is fine for two weeks, then spends the next two weeks crapping out virus. And unless food worker (bartender) is really diligent about handwashing, he's spreading virus-containing poop on food -- especially fresh produce or salads. And it's really hard to effectively wash hands without soap. After four weeks, food worker turns yellow and goes to the doctor where a diagnosis is made. Then the clinics start.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A. And dude, wash your damn hands.
Hepatitis A clinics cost $500,000 so far; vaccination is cheaper
So far, more than 8,300 people have been vaccinated. Dr. Anthony Billittier said,
"When it comes to protecting the public's health we need to do what we need to do."
Erie County Executive Chris Collins said,
"We've redeployed workers out of the Rath building to go to the ECC clinic. They aren't doing their jobs in the Rath building but we're paying them anyway, so is it a cost for the Hepatitis clinic, yes, because when they come back their work is piling up." And they may have to work overtime to catch up.
It's also costing taxpayers money to rents screen to give patients privacy, for the needles to inject the vaccine, and for the NFTA buses on standby to keep people waiting warm.
These hepatitis A cases are a weekly occurrence in the U.S. A food worker parties in Mexico or the Dominican where hepatitis A is endemic. Food worker comes home, is fine for two weeks, then spends the next two weeks crapping out virus. And unless food worker is really diligent about handwashing, he's spreading virus-containing poop on food -- especially fresh produce or salads. After four weeks, food worker turns yellow and goes to the doctor where a diagnosis is made. Then the clinics start.
Get vaccinated for hepatitis A. And dude, wash your damn hands.
Hepatitis A scare at New York Wegmans store
Anyone who handled or ate raw produce purchased from the Wegmans on Sheridan Drive since January 7th is asked to contact their doctor or get treated at free clinics this weekend.Produce shelves at the Wegmans store on Sheridan Drive were empty last night after the store pulled all potentially contaminated products.
The Erie County Health Department is hosting clinics at the Erie Community College north campus from 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more information call 1-800-808-1987.
Wegmans spokesperson Ann McCarthy said,
"We will be doing, as we've done in the past, making automated phone calls to customers who would have purchased potentially affected products from our Sheridan Drive store."
Additional information about hepatitis A can be found at
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/
Dude, wash your hands. And don't eat poop.
Hepatitis A case confirmed at B.C. ski resort restaurant
.jpg)
Dr. Digby Horne, the medical health officer for the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap area told CBC News on Wednesday morning that a food handler at Masa’s Bar and Grill developed the virus after travelling outside of the county.As a result, Interior Health is urging anyone who ate at Masa’s after 3 p.m. PT on January 16, 18, 20, 23 or 24 to get vaccinated.
And food handlers, wash your damn hands.
Foodborne illness sidelines Elias
Elias told the N.J. Star-Ledger,
"It just came on real quick. I had no symptoms before. I think it was just regular food poisoning, nothing related to hepatitis. I started feeling nauseous Friday morning. I had a nap before the game and by midnight I was vomiting and had a fever. I still have a little fever today, probably because of dehydration, but stomach-wise I feel much better. I ate some soup today. Hopefully, it will go away as quickly as it came on."The story notes that it may indeed be food poisoning or the flu, but it is always a more serious matter with Elias. He contracted hepatitis A while playing in Russia during the 2004-05 lockout and missed the first 39 games of the '05-06 season while recovering.
New International Food Safety Network Podcast -- Week of 10/26/07
- Hepatitis A in Calgary
- More beef recalls
- Salmonella in Georgia
Crisis management 101
.jpg)
The San Francisco Chronicle reports this morning that a single employee's illness at a single San Jose store propelled Jamba Juice into a high-profile damage control effort Friday as health authorities said thousands of customers might have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus.
Jamba Juice spokeswoman Anne Baker was cited as saying the staffer didn't contract the virus from the store at 1140 Lincoln Ave. in San Jose or its products. But because it's possible that the worker distributed virus particles, the store was cleaned and sanitized Wednesday night after the company learned of the worker's illness.
The virus is found in the feces of infected people, who can deposit it on food or surfaces even if they wash their hands after going to the bathroom. But hand washing is one of the most important measures to prevent contagion.
Don't serve poop.
Are You Being Served?
.jpg)
The British TV comedy 'Are You Being Served?' was, according to a story in the Australian (14 April 07), always compulsory viewing in the Stuttaford household, and the recently deceased John Inman was the obvious star of the series. Stuttaford says that some of his homosexual patients were initially rather cross because he exaggerated the stereotype of the camp gay, with languid hand movements and his obvious pleasure when taking inside-leg measurements. His catchphrase "I'm free", with its obvious innuendo, became famous.
Later, even most gay campaigners joined the other 22 million avid viewers as Inman's humour, so obviously in the pantomime tradition like that of his friend Danny La Rue, mitigated any charge that he was setting back the drive to banish discrimination.
The story says that John Inman, 71, contracted hepatitis more than two years ago, after eating food contaminated with the virus. The story goes on to say that a great advance in medicine over the past 25 years has been that both hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccination.
In the case of hepatitis A, the initial dose is repeated six to 12 months later with a booster. A form of the vaccination is available for children over the age of 12 months and it should become a routine injection for all those who spend their holidays abroad.
Hollywood hepatitis
Infosheet highlights:
- Recent Hollywood parties attendees were given a scare when it was announced that a worker for famous chef Wolfgang Puck’s catering service was diagnosed with Hepatitis A.
- Among those in attendance at the party was singer Beyonce Knowles, while director George Lucas attended another event catered by the same company.
- Infected individuals can shed the virus for up to 30 days before showing symptoms.
- Attendees were recommended to get immunoglobulin shots to prevent possible infection.
Infosheets are created weekly by FSN and are posted in restaurants, retail stores, on farms and used in training throughout the world. If you have any infosheet topic requests, or photos, please contact Ben Chapman. Continue Reading...
