2 more food service workers are among new hepatitis A cases
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two more food service workers are among the 33 new cases of hepatitis A confirmed by the the state Department of Health today, bringing the number of Hawaii cases to 168.
Two more food service workers are among the 33 new cases of hepatitis A confirmed by the state Department of Health today, bringing the number of Hawaii cases to 168.
One infected food worker is employed at Papa John’s restaurant, 94-1021 Waipahu St. in Waipahu. The employee worked on July 23 and 24, and Aug. 2.
The other worker is an employee at New Lin Fong bakery at 1132 Maunakea St. in Chinatown. The employee worked on July 20, 22-23, 25, 27, 29-30, and Aug. 1, 3 and 5-6.
Health officials said the information is offered to the public in an attempt to prevent any new cases. The likelihood that customers on those dates will become infected is low, they said.
“The public’s health is our primary concern, and we feel it is important to provide them with the most up-to-date information so they can work with their health care providers to protect themselves and their families,” state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said in a press release.
“At the same time, we also want the public to understand that these businesses and the other previously affected food establishments are not the source of the outbreak,” she said.
The Papa John’s and New Lin Fong employees are the eighth and ninth food service workers identified with the viral liver disease since the outbreak started in June.
Updated case counts and information are provided each Wednesday along with a complete list of food service establishments that have had employees diagnosed with hepatitis A infection at the following link: health.hawaii.gov/docd/hepatitis-a-outbreak-2016/.
According to the department’s Disease Outbreak Control Division, all the cases have been in adults, with 46 of them requiring hospitalization.
The investigation is focusing on a couple of possible sources — products brought to Oahu and distributed widely around the island. Eight individuals who came down with the disease now live on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, while one visitor has returned to the mainland.
The onset of illness has ranged between June 12 and Aug. 1.
A team of workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has landed in Hawaii to provide additional help with the investigation, arriving Sunday night. They are expected to be here for two weeks.
State health officials are also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to look at issues with food products elsewhere and to examine distributors and food establishments locally that might have received the suspected products.
Health officials are recommending that all Hawaii residents get vaccinated against hepatitis A and suggest contacting your health care provider.
Without a prescription the vaccine, given as two shots taken six months apart, can cost as much as $125.
A statewide list of vaccinating pharmacies can be found at health.hawaii.gov/docd/files/2013/07/IMM_Adult_Resource_List.pdf, or call the Aloha United Way information and referral line at 2-1-1.
21 responses to “2 more food service workers are among new hepatitis A cases”
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You keep repeating the same info. The DOH is focus on two imported products. What are they? DOH should know by now. At least, DOH should tell us the category of the products they are looking at so we can take precautions. Come on DOH!
one of the items I’d be looking at is flour products. Pizza = dough. Chinese = noodles. But you know what Ms. Chun has it all under control, there’s no rush to find the source
There was a recent recall of flour but it was for E Coli. I’d think that producers of flour are checking their product very closely.
I would avoid Papa John’s just because their pizza sucks.
You would not know good Pizza if it smacked you in the face. Think microwave pizza is “Ono.” Really?
Who said anything about microwave pizza? Take your meds before commenting. If you actually like PJ’s, you’re an easy person to please. Wash it down with a cold Bud too, since nothing goes better with lousy pizza than lousy beer.
True dat. Even Costco pizza is better than Pappa John’s. And you can buy your Bud by the case at the same time. Don’t like warm beer pour it ova ice.
Agree with Pocho. Best guess tainted flour.
The culprit is previously frozen fish used in poki.
Yes, previously frozen fish is the common denominator for a pizza joint and a chinese bakery.
“State health officials are also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to look at issues with food products elsewhere and to examine distributors and food establishments locally that might have received the suspected products.”
So what are the suspected products?
Also the Department of Healthy needs to pull thumb and work with drug manufactures and CDC to get more of the vaccines. The list you provided lists places that give different shots, not which ones actually have the hep vaccine.
There appears to be a shortage and maybe even price gouging. With 33 new cases, time to step up the state game.
Perhaps Hawaii should make the Hep A vaccine as a requirement for every food service worker.
Once of prevent worth a pound of cure.
Why is the part “Health officials are recommending that all Hawaii residents get vaccinated against hepatitis A and suggest contacting your health care provider.” buried so deeply in the story…?
So please tell all of us why the “PASS” placards are required again? Beyond driving up costs to the consumer due to increased operating expenditures at restaurants for technicians, cleaners, and inspectors?
Great. My family and I have now had two exposures: Waikele Baskin-Robbins, and Waipahu Papa Johns! We did not get vaccinated, but now I will call the doc tomorrow to see about getting the jab.
no need worry li’dat. Da state get’um! Dey get’um all unda control
First off, I feel sorry for the folks who picked up this infection and hope they all recover. But I’m not sure if the press and state are hyping it by telling everyone to get a vaccination. First, tell us what products are under suspicion so we can know the risk. Secondly, has the state run the numbers on telling everyone to get vaccinated. It sounds like the risk is still low based on the number of known infected. So let’s say only 1/3 of Hawaii gets vaccinated which would be about 400K individuals. If all adults get it, that cost could easily climb. At an average cost of $100 per shot, that would be about $40 million dollars. Can the insurers handle that kind of unexpected hit? Should the state provide the vaccination free of charge to control the outbreak? So many questions without the benefit of seeing the big picture.
Why would the insurer take a hit if people are paying for the vaccine at $100 a shot?
Regardless of this hit, this is why you have insurance, to protect you from stuff that can do you harm. Insurance is an educated gamble. Saying the insurance carrier can’t handle it…they can handle it, they just don’t hit their profit margins.
The Dept. of Heath is dropping the ball again(like they did with Dengue…since there is no vaccine, they should according to all World Experts have gone after controlling the vector=mosquito !!)
I would also like to say I don’t mind CDC coming, but “we” did higher so called experts to man our State why can’t they do it??
As far as Epidemiology is concerned, its important to track and find the source, BUT you are tasked with protecting the populace, so…you also need to be proactive n other fronts. No brained, NOW mandate all Food Service people have proof of/ get the Hep A vaccine!( we now require school aged kids to get it to attend school).
Anyone watch Criminal Minds where the FBI profiling team is trying to find out who the serial killer is but as they continue to investigate to find the killer they NEVER make a public announcements about the general MO of the killer and how the entire community should be aware of not being another victim. So more people fall victim to the killer until the FBI team finally catches him/her at the end of the episode. Maybe announcing earlier on might spook the serial killer into hiding but wouldn’t that value of warning others to not fall victim to the killer be the lessor of two evils?
Maybe the exact source of the HepA has not been identified however, without interjecting opinion, the list of all foods eaten in the restaurants, name of food establishments, name and food bought at supermarkets, open markets, use of public facilities listed by each anonymous individual named as Person1, Person2, etc. would be beneficial as it would not identify the exact source of the virus however it would help not only those who get ill but everyone else the idea of the potential source. The deal should be if the CDC team cannot identify the source before they leave Hawaii, all of this information MINUS personal information should be publicly released and let people decide for themselves how they want to use the information. How can the State be sued as there is no opinions given just basic facts reported. Again the information has to be detailed of not just where they ate but also what they ordered or food bought at a store and any visits to public places such as to swim, snorkel, surf, etc.