Wegmans store has a Hepatitis A warning
Wegmans is robo-dialing people with an automated message, I just got called
http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_articl...?storyid=55221
Quote:
Wegmans' Employee Tests Positive for Hepatitis A
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Created: 2/8/2008 7:13:47 PM
Updated: 2/9/2008 10:39:22 AM
Erie County Health officials say a produce employee at the Wegmans on Sheridan Drive in Williamsville tested positive for Hepatitis A.
Erie County Executive Chris Collins, Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billittier and officials from Wegmans made the announcement Friday night.
Wegmans' officials notified county health officials Friday that one of their employees in the produce department tested positive for the disease.
Health officials say there is not an outbreak, just one person who tested positive at this one location. But, since this person handled produce there is a risk for spreading the illness.
The health department has decided to provide preventative treatment for anyone who believes they've been exposed.
Anyone who feels sick should call their doctor.
People who bought produce dating back to January 7th could be at risk. There is a vaccine that is recommended for anyone who purchased and ate raw produce from this location since January 26th.
The health department is offering two free clinics, Saturday, February 9th at ECC North Building S Cafeteria from 4-12 and Sunday, February, 10th, from 12-8. There you can receive a Hepatitis A vaccine.
The New York State Health Department says they will have a hotline set up for the public to call. The number is: 1-800-808-1987.
Dr. Billittier says this only pertains to raw produce, not cooked food. Also, produce in wrapped packages, or sealed bags are not affected.
Wegmans' spokesperson, Ann McCarthy says Wegmans' is in the process of sanitizing their store and education their employees about Hepatitis A.
For Wegman's related questions call 1-800-564-8260. They ask customers not to bring back potentially contaminated produce to the store. They ask that you discard the produce. You can bring in your receipt for a refund.
McCarthy says the store is not closed and has not been asked to close.
Symptoms for Hepatitis A include:
Jaundice, Fatigue, Abdominal Pain, Loss of Appetite, Nausea, Diarrhea, and Fever.
According to the Center for Disease Control:
"Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus. You can get Hepatitis A through person-to-person contact through the fecal-oral route (i.e., ingestion of something that has been contaminated with the feces of an infected person). Most infections result from close personal contact with an infected household member or sex partner.
Common-source outbreaks and sporadic cases also can occur from exposure to fecally contaminated food or water. Uncooked HAV-contaminated foods have been recognized as a source of outbreaks. Cooked foods also can transmit HAV if the temperature during food preparation is inadequate to kill the virus or if food is contaminated after cooking, as occurs in outbreaks associated with infected food handlers.
Waterborne outbreaks are infrequent in developed countries with well-maintained sanitation and water supplies.
Good personal hygiene and proper sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A.
Vaccines are also available for long-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in persons 12 months of age and older. Immune globulin is available for short-term prevention of hepatitis A virus infection in individuals of all ages."
For more information on Hepatitis A, check out Center for Disease Control's website.
Forty years ago, pre-HMOs...
Employees with HepaA are discoverd every so often.
When it happened Forty years ago, the store would put up signs, the TV news would briefly broadcast it, The newspaper would post it. That was pre-HMOs and pre the www way.
Twenty years ago, the stores and media did the same, as HMOs were emerging and as Internet usage was fast growing.
Today: Today is suppose to be the LAST day for those free injections--hmmmm, will it? Will an important freebe stop so soon, and at $30 a shot?
Will "free" benefit or hurt people who co-pay and are stuck on HMOs? Does "free" benefit HMOs or, who finally has to pay for that?--(not including people who get that stuff free anyway)...
gsip
