Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

------------------------------------------------------------

March 29, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Health Officials Try to Track Down Source of Hepatitis A Virus" Vancouver Province (www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince)

(03/29/02) P. A7; Proctor, Jason; Jiwa, Salim

Ever since a Capers Market food handler contracted Hepatitis A, Vancouver health officials have been busily investigating the individual's lifestyle and campaigning to vaccinate at least 3,000 people who may have come into contact with contaminated food.  According to Dr. Patricia Daly of the coastal health board that instigated the health alert, the food handler is not a member of a high risk group nor a traveler who may have contracted the virus in a foreign country.  She feels it is most likely that the individual himself, contracted the disease from eating contaminated food, possibly even from another store or restaurant.  Capers' store policy requires food handlers to wear gloves while working.  So far, no hepatitis cases have been linked to Capers directly, and the market has gone out of its way to cooperate with the investigation according to Daly, even going so far as issuing a possible contaminated foods list.  Regional medical health officer for the Vancouver Island Health Authority Dr. Richard Stanwick, stressed that there is no risk to individuals who purchased food at the Capers Market in Victoria since a recent change of ownership ended the selling of any of the Vancouver-made products.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.