Heppatitus A Outbreak in Pittsburg, PA

[Guest Mikel]

On the scroll at the bottom of the screen on CNN this morning, a saw mention that there was an outbreak of Heppatitus A in Pittsburg, PA. I think it said 185 reported cases...not 100% sure. I know it said there was one death due to complications. Does anyone have more information on this...anyone in the Pittsburg area know? Is this primarily an outbreak in the gay community?

[Guest DrBedlow]

-Is this primarily an outbreak in the gay community?

 

Not so sure. Some of those people could be gay. But they were all unfortuante people who had the misfortune, and bad taste, to eat (and work) at a Chi-Chi's in Beaver, PA (a small town just north of Pittsburgh). I think for a restaurant chain already in Chpt. 11, this will be the death knell.

:-(

[BuckyXTC]

>-Is this primarily an outbreak in the gay community?

>

>Not so sure. Some of those people could be gay. But they were

>all unfortuante people who had the misfortune, and bad taste,

>to eat (and work) at a Chi-Chi's in Beaver, PA (a small town

>just north of Pittsburgh). I think for a restaurant chain

>already in Chpt. 11, this will be the death knell.

>:-(

 

How does one get hepatitis A from eating food at ChiChi's? Are they serving boneless brownfish burritos these days?

[Guest Mikel]

Thanks for that info...

[Guest]

>

>How does one get hepatitis A from eating food at ChiChi's?

>Are they serving boneless brownfish burritos these days?

 

If a food preparer doesn't wash his hands adequately after taking a dump, he can pass it on to anyone whose food he prepares (anyone who hasn't either been previously exposed or vaccinated, that is).

[Guest Mikel]

Is it accurate that if you have been previously exposed that you can not get it again?

[VaHawk]

>Is this primarily an outbreak in the gay community?>

 

I hope the answers below have eased any fears/questions you have, but I'm just curious as to why you wondered if was in the "gay community"?

 

I believe you were probably thinking of Hepatatis B and C which has been passed via sexual encounters. I don't believe there is a cure yet for B or C but I believe you can control it via medications.

 

Hepatitis A is the mildest strain, often passed thru food and drink contamination as Unicorn stated and easily cleared up with medication.

[Guest Mikel]

The reason I inquired if it was an outbreak in the Pittsburg gay community is because that happened locally over the summer near me. The local gay publications carried information...and warned against rimming. That is why I wondered if it was the same in Pittsburg.

[Guest]

Yes, 100% accurate. There has never been a case of someone being infected with Hep A twice. There are few 100%'s in medicine, but this is one of them.