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