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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2003
Contact: Kerre Fisher, (907) 748-7398

HEPATITIS A IN KODIAK:
A PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT

February 27, 2003

Hepatitis A Fact Sheet (PDF Format)

Kodiak – The Alaska Division Public Health (DPH) has confirmed that one case of hepatitis A virus (HAV) illness has been confirmed in a person who helped make doughnuts sold at the AC Deli in Kodiak. Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. Persons can get HAV infection by ingesting food or water contaminated by the virus. While the risk for contracting hepatitis A from eating doughnuts is low, the chance for becoming ill can be reduced by obtaining a shot of immune globulin.

You may be at an increased risk of acquiring hepatitis A if you:

  • Ate doughnuts at the AC Deli in Kodiak between February 16-26, 2003

And

  • Have never been vaccinated against HAV or never had HAV disease before.

For persons who meet these criteria, immune globulin shots can be given to reduce the likelihood that they will develop disease. Immune globulin will be given free-of-charge at the following special clinics to any person who meets the above criteria:

Location:

Kodiak Public Health Center,
316 Mission Road (Room 207),
Kodiak

Dates and Time:

Friday Feb 28, 7pm-9pm;
Saturday Mar 1, 9am-7pm; and
Sunday, Mar 2, 10am-3pm

(Immune globulin shots must be given within 2 weeks of exposure to be effective against hepatitis A disease.)

Karen Pearson, DPH Director, says “There is not a Hepatitis A outbreak in Kodiak; there has only been the one reported case in this instance. The immune globulin shots are being offered as a preventative measure to ensure the safety of anyone who might have been exposed to the virus.”

“The Division of Public Health is working closely with the Department of Environmental Conservation, the city of Kodiak and the AC Deli owner and staff to minimize the impact of this diagnosed case of hepatitis A on the public,” Pearson adds.

Please contact Kodiak Public Health at 486-3319 or the DPH, Section of Epidemiology, at 907-269-8000 for more information about the clinics or if you have questions about HAV or immune globulin.

Other online information is available at:

Printer Friendly Version (Adobe PDF)

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For more information, please contact

Sherry Hill, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Communications
(907) 465-1611

Or

Ross Soboleff
Public Information Officer III
(907) 465-1611