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The cause of the outbreak was when an employee at a McDonald’s restaurant in Milan continued working at the restaurant after being diagnosed with hepatitis A in June 2009.
Patrons who ate at the restaurant between July 6 through July 10 and July 13 through July 14 were said to be at risk for contracting hepatitis A. Approximately 10,000 people were potentially exposed to virus. A clinic was consequently set up by the Rock Island County Health Department (RICHD) for any restaurant patron who went to the restaurant during that time period. They received either an immune globulin injection or a vaccine. It was reported that roughly 5,000 people received treatment.
The costs involved to conduct the clinic were about $159,000. The RICHD requested that the parties involved in the matter give some form of payment to help with the costs incurred. The Trinity Regional Health System has just recently agreed to pay $80,000 toward those expenses. Trinity was the hospital that examined and treated one of the workers in June 2009. Afterwards the hospital failed to correctly notify the RICHD.
Hepatitis A is a virus that can be carried on the hands of an infected person who does not wash his or her hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. Infection is also possible by direct contact with a person who does not practice good hygiene, or by consuming food or drink handled by an infected person.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever. Urine may become darker and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) may occur. Symptoms can appear from 15 to 50 days after exposure. If you have these symptoms, contact your doctor or a medical professional. However, persons infected with hepatitis A may exhibit no hepatitis A symptoms, yet they still have the potential to infect others with the hepatitis A virus.
The Law Firm of Eric H. Weinberg currently represents individuals sickened in fast food restaurant food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. We are ready to help you. Our law firm is currently assisting individuals who may have been sickened in the outbreak. If you received a vaccination, have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, are awaiting medical confirmation of infection, or have a question regarding you legal rights, please click Free Legal Case Evaluation, or call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
To return to the homepage, see Hepatitis A Lawsuits.
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