June 27, 2003

ALHAMBRA, Calif. (AP) -- Los Angeles County health officials are urging anyone who ate at a Taco Bell restaurant in Alhambra a few weeks ago to get vaccinated for hepatitis A after a worker was diagnosed with the liver disease.

Officials said customers' risk of contracting the disease was low and the immune globulin vaccinations were precautionary.

"We have no way of knowing if this person contaminated the food," said Laurene Mascola, chief of Los Angeles County's Acute Communicable Disease Control Program.

Officials learned of the worker's diagnosis Thursday, and recommended vaccines for anyone who ate at the restaurant on Commonwealth Avenue on June 12 or 13. The vaccination only is effective if received within 14 days of exposure.

Hepatitis A symptoms include yellowing of eyes and skin, nausea, appetite loss, vomiting, stomach cramps, dark-colored urine and fatigue.

Taco Bell spokeswoman Laurie Gannon said the company notified health authorities when the worker was diagnosed with hepatitis A. It was the first known case of the illness in at least 10 years among Taco Bell workers in the area, she said. The worker is recovering, she said.

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