Hepatitis A and food safety.

Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can cause mild to severe illness. The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infectious person. Almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A with a lifelong immunity. However, a very small proportion of people infected with hepatitis A could die from fulminating hepatitis. The virus is primarily spread when an uninfected and unvaccinated person ingests food or water that is contaminated with the feces of an infected person. The disease is associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation and poor personal hygiene. The risk of hepatitis A infection is associated with a lack of safe water, and poor sanitation and hygiene especially dirty hands.Safe water supply, food safety, improved sanitation, hand washing and the hepatitis A vaccine are the most effective ways to combat the disease. The hepatitis A virus is one of the most frequent causes of foodborne infection. Epidemics related to contaminated food or water can erupt explosively,as Hepatitis A viruses persist in the environment and can withstand food-production processes routinely used to inactivate and/or control bacterial pathogens. The risk of hepatitis A from food or water is a serious issue as approximately 3,000 people received Hepatitis A vaccinations after being exposed to the illness by the restaurant and in fact a lawsuit was initiated and a settlement of $200,000 has been announced. A settlement has been reached in the class action lawsuit against New Hawaii Sea Restaurant, formerly of the Bronx, New York. Approximately 3,000 people received Hepatitis A vaccinations after being exposed to the illness by the restaurant in September 2013 and all are included in the class-action lawsuit. According to the settlement, potential class members who may benefit by this settlement include anyone who ate or drank food from the New Hawaii Sea Restaurant from September 7-19, 2013, or were exposed to someone who did, and obtained a blood test and immune globulin (IG) or Hepatitis A vaccination shot within 30 days of eating at the restaurant. Those who actually developed Hepatitis A infections after eating at the restaurant are not included in this settlement. continue