Spring Break
The Daily OrangeUniversity confirms single diagnosis of Hepatitis A
Health Services investigates, finds no evidence of risk to students
By Stephanie Musat
Posted: 9/2/08, 11:17 PM EST Section: News
A worker in Syracuse University Food Services was diagnosed with hepatitis A, a viral disease that can be spread through consumption of the virus, the university announced Tuesday.
The employee worked in Haven and Shaw Dining Centers Aug. 23 and Aug. 27.
There is no evidence that any other person is infected or that any other person is at significant risk of infection, said James Jacobs, director of SU Health Services.
There is also no evidence of risk to anyone who eats at these dining facilities, he said.
But Dessa Bergen-Cico, an SU health and wellness professor, said it may be too early to conclude that no one else is infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, symptoms can appear two to six weeks after exposure.
"I would say in another week, eight days or so, we should have a more clear and confirmed picture of whether or not anybody gets ill," Bergen-Cico said.
Jacobs said an investigation took place to ensure the practice of sanitary codes at dining centers, and vaccinations are being provided for Food Services workers.
"There are no other precautions that we are doing because there is nothing spreading," he said.
The Onondaga County Health Department was notified and worked with the university to investigate hygienic conditions in the dining halls.
Cynthia Morrow, commissioner of health for Onondaga County, said
the dining halls were inspected, and precautions were made to limit the possibility of spreading the disease.
The county health department performed an environmental inspection of the dining centers this past weekend.
The department determined that the identified individual was likely infected outside of Onondaga County.
The investigation also found that all safety protocols in the two dining halls are followed, including the use of gloves for food handling and the disinfection of food preparation areas.
Jacobs sent an e-mail to the campus community explaining the situation and ensuring that "casual contact - as in the usual school or office setting - does not spread the virus." He said the disease is rarely fatal, and most people recover in a few weeks without any complications.
"Onondaga County has a pretty good system of responding to and working with these outbreaks, because they've happened in the past," Bergen-Cico said.
It was necessary that the food service worker brought his or her illness to the attention of the county health department, especially working in a dining center with a salad bar where there is more personal contact and likelihood of contamination, Bergen Cico said.
The dining centers remain open as usual.
Jacobs assured that the hepatitis A has not spread. But he said, "as with many illnesses on college campuses including mono, strep (throat), the flu and hepatitis A, the single easiest thing to prevent it is to wash hands."
-Asst. news editor Megan Saucke contributed reporting to this article.
sdmusat@syr.edu
The employee worked in Haven and Shaw Dining Centers Aug. 23 and Aug. 27.
There is no evidence that any other person is infected or that any other person is at significant risk of infection, said James Jacobs, director of SU Health Services.
There is also no evidence of risk to anyone who eats at these dining facilities, he said.
But Dessa Bergen-Cico, an SU health and wellness professor, said it may be too early to conclude that no one else is infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, symptoms can appear two to six weeks after exposure.
"I would say in another week, eight days or so, we should have a more clear and confirmed picture of whether or not anybody gets ill," Bergen-Cico said.
Jacobs said an investigation took place to ensure the practice of sanitary codes at dining centers, and vaccinations are being provided for Food Services workers.
"There are no other precautions that we are doing because there is nothing spreading," he said.
The Onondaga County Health Department was notified and worked with the university to investigate hygienic conditions in the dining halls.
Cynthia Morrow, commissioner of health for Onondaga County, said
the dining halls were inspected, and precautions were made to limit the possibility of spreading the disease.
The county health department performed an environmental inspection of the dining centers this past weekend.
The department determined that the identified individual was likely infected outside of Onondaga County.
The investigation also found that all safety protocols in the two dining halls are followed, including the use of gloves for food handling and the disinfection of food preparation areas.
Jacobs sent an e-mail to the campus community explaining the situation and ensuring that "casual contact - as in the usual school or office setting - does not spread the virus." He said the disease is rarely fatal, and most people recover in a few weeks without any complications.
"Onondaga County has a pretty good system of responding to and working with these outbreaks, because they've happened in the past," Bergen-Cico said.
It was necessary that the food service worker brought his or her illness to the attention of the county health department, especially working in a dining center with a salad bar where there is more personal contact and likelihood of contamination, Bergen Cico said.
The dining centers remain open as usual.
Jacobs assured that the hepatitis A has not spread. But he said, "as with many illnesses on college campuses including mono, strep (throat), the flu and hepatitis A, the single easiest thing to prevent it is to wash hands."
-Asst. news editor Megan Saucke contributed reporting to this article.
sdmusat@syr.edu
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