| Not all cases of jaundice are caused by hepatitis. The | | | | then result in the contamination of food with infected |
| condition may be the result of hemolytic anemia, | | | | fecal material," researchers said. |
| cancer of the pancreas, gallstones lodged in the liver | | | | "HAV transmission through a single food handler has |
| duct, or a side effect of certain medications like | | | | the potential to infect a large number of people - |
| erthromycin and sulfa drugs, antidepressants and | | | | attack rates as high as 56 infections per 100 |
| anticancer drugs. | | | | consumers have been reported. The risk to other food |
| Furthermore, even if you do have hepatitis A, the | | | | handlers is estimated to be even higher up to 66 |
| disease may be so mild that symptoms never appear. | | | | cases per 100 restaurant employees. However, by the |
| Still, the infected person can be a carrier of the | | | | time the outbreak has been reported and the source |
| disease and bring it elsewhere. | | | | of infection traced, it is usually too late for preventive |
| The range of contaminants that cause hepatitis A is | | | | measures to have any major impact," they added. |
| unlimited. Most people get the disease by eating in | | | | Since the virus can resist heat or chemical inactivation, |
| unsanitary places. Food handlers who don't wash their | | | | it can be present in salads, sandwiches, cold meats, |
| hands properly play a major role in transmitting the | | | | fruits and fruit juices, and baked goods which are |
| disease by touching unwrapped foods that are | | | | improperly handled. |
| consumed raw or without further cooking. The US . | | | | "Food borne outbreaks observed in the United States |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | | | | are most often due to uncooked food contaminated |
| said as many as 1,000 infected food handlers are | | | | during preparation by infected food handlers incubating |
| reported every year. | | | | hepatitis A; salads and sandwiches are the most |
| "Food handlers implicated as index cases of infection | | | | common vehicles. Recently, outbreaks due to |
| are often unaware that they are ill. This is probably | | | | raspberries contaminated during picking and to lettuce |
| because they are at the incubation stage of the | | | | contaminated prior to wholesale distribution have been |
| disease, which is generally asymptomatic but | | | | reported," according to Stephen C. Hadler of the |
| characterized by a high level of viral shedding in feces. | | | | Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC in Atlanta, |
| The infected food handlers therefore continue to work | | | | Georgia. (Next: Oysters and hepatitis A. |
| - and any lapse in standards of personal hygiene can | | | | |