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NEWS RELEASE
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RSA Tower 201 Monroe Street, Suite 914 Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone 334-206-5300 Fax 334-206-5520
www.adph.org
Hepatitis A Virus was possibly transmitted at McDonald?s in Northport
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Albert White, M.D.
(205) 554-4500
Mary McIntyre, M.D.
(334) 206-5325
Customers of McDonald?s, located at 2000 McFarland Blvd, Northport may have been exposed
to hepatitis A virus through an infected employee. If you visited this McDonald?s any time on
March 14, 2012, or during breakfast hours on March 16, 2012, please contact your health care
provider as soon as possible. If you do not have a health care provider, you may contact the
Tuscaloosa County Health Department at (205) 562-6900.
According to Dr. Donald Williamson, State Health Officer, ?Hepatitis A vaccine and immune
globulin can prevent hepatitis A virus infection, but only when given within 14 days of exposure.?
Therefore, individuals exposed on March 14, 2012, or March 16, 2012, should receive treatment
no later than this Friday, March 30, 2012. Individuals previously vaccinated with hepatitis A
vaccine are considered protected from this exposure.
Customers visiting this McDonald?s between Feb. 28 and March 14 may have been exposed
and become ill. Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection appear 2 to 6 weeks after
exposure and commonly include mild fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine, light stools, and jaundice
(yellowness of eyes or skin). The disease varies in severity, from mild cases lasting 2 weeks or
less to more severe cases lasting 4 to 6 weeks or longer. If you become ill, please contact your
health care provider immediately.
Hepatitis A virus spreads when a person ingests contaminated food or water, or is exposed to
contaminated objects. Persons are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis A virus when they
have been in close and continuous contact with an infected individual, particularly in a
household. Frequent thorough handwashing with warm water and soap for 20 seconds is key to
stopping the spread of hepatitis A virus. Handwashing should include the back of the hands,
wrists, between fingers and under fingernails.
For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/A/PDFs/...lFactSheet.pdf
-30-
3/27/12
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NEWS RELEASE
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RSA Tower 201 Monroe Street, Suite 914 Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone 334-206-5300 Fax 334-206-5520
www.adph.org
No hepatitis A outbreak in Tuscaloosa County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Albert White, M.D.
(205) 554-4500
Mary McIntyre, M.D.
(334) 206-5325
As of March 29, 2012, only one case of hepatitis A has been identified in Tuscaloosa County in
a single food handler. According to Dr. Donald Williamson, State Health Officer, ?At this time, no
additional cases have been identified. I want to thank the owner and managers of the
McDonald?s at 2000 McFarland Blvd. for sending the food handler home as soon as they knew
he was sick. Their quick response was the best prevention to protect the community, since the
most common way to transmit hepatitis A is person to person.?
On Wednesday, March 28, the Tuscaloosa County Health Department vaccinated 260 people.
Hepatitis A vaccine is still available at this location through Friday, March 30, for customers who
visited McDonald?s on March 14, and during breakfast hours on March 16. Tuscaloosa County
Health Department is located at 2350 Hargrove Road E. and the phone number is (205) 562-
6900.
Customers who visited before March 14 should continue watching for signs and symptoms of
hepatitis A infection, which appear 2 to 6 weeks after exposure and commonly include mild
fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the
abdomen, dark urine, light stools and jaundice (yellowness of eyes or skin). The disease varies
in severity, from mild cases lasting 2 weeks or less, to more severe, cases lasting 4 to 6 weeks
or longer. Persons who become ill should contact their health care provider immediately.
Frequent and thorough handwashing is essential to stopping the spread of any infectious
disease, including hepatitis A. Effective handwashing includes use of warm soapy water for 20
seconds and washing the backs of hands, wrists, between fingers, and under fingernails.
Those having questions about hepatitis A may call 1-800-338-3874. The Health Department will
continue to monitor the community for additional hepatitis A cases.
-30-
3/29/12
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RSA Tower 201 Monroe Street, Suite 914 Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone 334-206-5300 Fax 334-206-5520
www.adph.org
Hepatitis A Virus was possibly transmitted at McDonald?s in Northport
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Albert White, M.D.
(205) 554-4500
Mary McIntyre, M.D.
(334) 206-5325
Customers of McDonald?s, located at 2000 McFarland Blvd, Northport may have been exposed
to hepatitis A virus through an infected employee. If you visited this McDonald?s any time on
March 14, 2012, or during breakfast hours on March 16, 2012, please contact your health care
provider as soon as possible. If you do not have a health care provider, you may contact the
Tuscaloosa County Health Department at (205) 562-6900.
According to Dr. Donald Williamson, State Health Officer, ?Hepatitis A vaccine and immune
globulin can prevent hepatitis A virus infection, but only when given within 14 days of exposure.?
Therefore, individuals exposed on March 14, 2012, or March 16, 2012, should receive treatment
no later than this Friday, March 30, 2012. Individuals previously vaccinated with hepatitis A
vaccine are considered protected from this exposure.
Customers visiting this McDonald?s between Feb. 28 and March 14 may have been exposed
and become ill. Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection appear 2 to 6 weeks after
exposure and commonly include mild fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine, light stools, and jaundice
(yellowness of eyes or skin). The disease varies in severity, from mild cases lasting 2 weeks or
less to more severe cases lasting 4 to 6 weeks or longer. If you become ill, please contact your
health care provider immediately.
Hepatitis A virus spreads when a person ingests contaminated food or water, or is exposed to
contaminated objects. Persons are at increased risk of acquiring hepatitis A virus when they
have been in close and continuous contact with an infected individual, particularly in a
household. Frequent thorough handwashing with warm water and soap for 20 seconds is key to
stopping the spread of hepatitis A virus. Handwashing should include the back of the hands,
wrists, between fingers and under fingernails.
For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/A/PDFs/...lFactSheet.pdf
-30-
3/27/12
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS RELEASE
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
RSA Tower 201 Monroe Street, Suite 914 Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone 334-206-5300 Fax 334-206-5520
www.adph.org
No hepatitis A outbreak in Tuscaloosa County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Albert White, M.D.
(205) 554-4500
Mary McIntyre, M.D.
(334) 206-5325
As of March 29, 2012, only one case of hepatitis A has been identified in Tuscaloosa County in
a single food handler. According to Dr. Donald Williamson, State Health Officer, ?At this time, no
additional cases have been identified. I want to thank the owner and managers of the
McDonald?s at 2000 McFarland Blvd. for sending the food handler home as soon as they knew
he was sick. Their quick response was the best prevention to protect the community, since the
most common way to transmit hepatitis A is person to person.?
On Wednesday, March 28, the Tuscaloosa County Health Department vaccinated 260 people.
Hepatitis A vaccine is still available at this location through Friday, March 30, for customers who
visited McDonald?s on March 14, and during breakfast hours on March 16. Tuscaloosa County
Health Department is located at 2350 Hargrove Road E. and the phone number is (205) 562-
6900.
Customers who visited before March 14 should continue watching for signs and symptoms of
hepatitis A infection, which appear 2 to 6 weeks after exposure and commonly include mild
fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the
abdomen, dark urine, light stools and jaundice (yellowness of eyes or skin). The disease varies
in severity, from mild cases lasting 2 weeks or less, to more severe, cases lasting 4 to 6 weeks
or longer. Persons who become ill should contact their health care provider immediately.
Frequent and thorough handwashing is essential to stopping the spread of any infectious
disease, including hepatitis A. Effective handwashing includes use of warm soapy water for 20
seconds and washing the backs of hands, wrists, between fingers, and under fingernails.
Those having questions about hepatitis A may call 1-800-338-3874. The Health Department will
continue to monitor the community for additional hepatitis A cases.
-30-
3/29/12