Health Alert: Employee at Westwood Jerry’s Deli Diagnosed with Hepatitis A

For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2010

Employee at Westwood Jerry's Deli Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
Public Health taking steps to reduce the risk of the illness spreading

LOS ANGELES - Today the Department of Public Health announced that an
employee of Jerry's Deli in Westwood, located at 10925 Weyburn Ave.,
has been diagnosed with acute hepatitis A. The hepatitis A virus is
spread by close physical contact and through fecal contamination of food
or drink, so Public Health recommends that patrons who ate sandwiches at
the restaurant or who ate catered sandwiches from this location on
November 18, 21, 23 or 24 should receive an immune globulin (IG) shot or
a hepatitis A vaccination no later than 14 days after their exposure to
prevent or reduce illness.

"So far, we have not received notice of any cases resulting from
exposure at this establishment, and the risk of transmission from this
patient is considered low," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH,
Director of Public Health and Health Officer. "We are actively
investigating the situation and working with the management of Jerry's
Deli to prevent any possible spread of the disease."

Health officials recommend that patrons who ate hot or cold sandwiches
at the Westwood location of Jerry's Deli or who ate catered sandwiches
from this location on the dates specified above receive an IG shot or
hepatitis A vaccination to prevent or reduce illness. No other food or
drink is considered to be at risk. IG is a shot of concentrated
antibodies made from donated blood, providing temporary protection;
while the hepatitis A vaccine helps your body develop its own
antibodies, providing longer-lasting protection.

Shots must be received within 14 days of exposure in order to reduce or
prevent illness. Only those patrons ate sandwiches at the restaurant or
who ate catered sandwiches from this location on November 18, 21, 23 or
24 need to take steps to protect their health.

Please note that only the Westwood branch of Jerry's Deli is affected
by this Health Alert.

Persons who have been vaccinated against hepatitis A or have received
IG within the last three months or have ever had laboratory confirmed
infection with the hepatitis A virus also do not need an injection of
IG.

Affected residents are encouraged to seek IG or vaccine through their
personal physicians. The Department of Public Health will make IG and
vaccine available through certain clinics through December 8. A list of
these Public Health clinics, dates and locations can be found on the DPH
website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or by calling the LA County
Info line at 211 from any landline or cell phone within the county.

Persons who had sandwiches from Jerry's Deli in Westwood between
November 12 and November 17 may have been exposed to hepatitis A but it
is too late to receive IG or vaccine to prevent illness. If you
experience any of the symptoms of hepatitis A, please contact your
doctor. There is no risk to any person who ate food prepared after
November 24.

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A
Persons who had sandwiches from Jerry's Deli in Westwood between
November 12 and November 17, or those who had sandwiches between
November 18 and November 24 and did not receive a protective shot, may
develop hepatitis A. The incubation period for hepatitis A is two to
seven weeks. If you may have been exposed, watch for the following
symptoms:

● jaundice (a yellow color to the eyes or skin)
● nausea
● loss of appetite
● vomiting
● fever
● abdominal cramps
● dark-colored urine
● fatigue and light-colored bowel movements

If you experience these symptoms, contact your physician.

Close contacts, including household and sexual partners, are at risk
for acquiring hepatitis A from an infected person. It is important to be
diagnosed promptly to ensure that treatments with IG or vaccine are
effective. Routine vaccination and thorough handwashing with soap and
hot water after using the toilet and before handling food are the most
effective factors in preventing the spread of the disease.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and
improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles
County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and
services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control,
and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000
employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more
about Public Health and the work we do, please visit
http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov, visit our YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth, or follow us on Twitter:
LAPublicHealth.

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