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6 People with Hepatitis A Ate at Chipotle in La Mesa, California

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

At least 6 people who ate at a La Mesa Chipotle restaurant have contracted hepatitis A.  Using epidemiological and microbiological evidence, we have successfully recovered significant amounts for victims of food poisoning associated with restaurants, even in cases where a food source was not pinpointed.  If you would like to know more about restaurant liability in a hepatitis A case, please contact a lawyer at our office at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our lawyers or submit our free case consultation form.

In most hepatitis A cases, food served to the sickened patrons was contaminated with the feces of a food handler who had hepatitis A.  In the case of a restaurant like Chipotle, the most likely scenario was that a sickened food handler contaminated food while cooking or serving the food.  In a recent hepatitis case involving a restaurant (not Chipotle), health officials determined that the food source of the outbreak was most likely raw lettuce that the sickened employee had chopped up.  Health officials may not find even a likely food source of this outbreak.

"Our Community Epidemiology Branch and DEH are working closely with the restaurant to determine the source of the hepatitis A infection,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County of San Diego Public Health Officer. "Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable illness, and we recommend that the public talk to their physicians about getting vaccinated against hepatitis A."

Epidemiology and DEH staff are conducting interviews with restaurant employees and patients and taking blood samples to determine the source of infection. “We don’t yet know if the source was an ill person or contaminated food,” said Gary Erbeck, director, DEH. “Chipotle officials have been cooperative as the investigation continues.”

The County recommends that individuals who dined at the restaurant between March 1 and April 22, 2008 - and are symptomatic for hepatitis A - see their physician to be screened for the illness.

Hepatitis A symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice. Hepatitis A does not become chronic; symptoms usually last less than 2 months.

In 2007, there were 82 cases of Hepatitis A in San Diego County. Individuals with no medical provider, or anyone who would like more information, may call the County Epidemiology Branch at (619) 515-6620. Information about Hepatitis A vaccine may be obtained from the HHSA Immunizations Branch at (619) 692-8661.  For questions regarding legal representation in a Chipotle lawsuit, you may contact our law firm at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), email our lawyers or submit our free case consultation form.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on April 23, 2008 (boomark / email).