Foodborne Illness

November 19, 2004

Foodborne illnesses are always a concern during the holiday season. Bacteria, toxins and even viruses can cause foodborne illnesses. Hepatitis A is a type of viral hepatitis that unlike hepatitis B and hepatitis C is considered a foodborne illness.

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease that is spread from feces (stool) to mouth via direct or indirect contact with unwashed hands, uncooked foods or anal-oral sex. Recent outbreaks of hepatitis A in the United States have been linked to raw or undercooked food such as onions, oysters or tomatoes and to water contaminated by sewage. Foodborne transmission is frequently associated with harvesting of produce or preparation of uncooked foods by an infected person. Hepatitis A can easily be spread among families, child care centers that have diapered children, jails and shelters. It is also common in places lacking safe systems for food and water sanitation. The number of hepatitis A cases in Houston varies each year from 177 in 2000 to 58 in 2003.

Hepatitis A can cause a mild “flu-like” illness with jaundice (yellowing of the skin), or may even progress to severe stomach pains, fever and nausea. Young children under 6 years old often have an asymptomatic infection which means they do not have any symptoms but can still spread the infection to others.

For prevention, always wash your hands well after using the bathroom, before touching food or drink and after changing a baby’s diaper. Do not let anyone with hepatitis A make, serve or otherwise handle food for you. If you have close contact (live in the same house, eat meals prepared by the contact or share personal items such a tooth brush) with someone diagnosed with hepatitis A, ask your doctor for an immune globulin (IG) shot which can provide temporary immunity if given within 14 days after your first exposure. There is also a vaccine (two doses given six months apart) for people 2 years old or older. Anyone can get a hepatitis A vaccination but it is highly recommended if you have chronic liver disease, are a man who has sex with other men, use street drugs, are a child living in an area where hepatitis A is common, or live in or often travel to a country where hepatitis A is common. Once you have had hepatitis A you are protected and will never get it again.

Hepatitis A is only one of several foodborne illnesses to be aware of during the holiday season. Here are a few tips to help keep your holiday meals safe for you and your family:

Wash all vegetables and fruits thoroughly before serving or cooking.
Never use the same plate or utensils to prepare uncooked or raw foods and to handle or serve cooked foods.
Designate one area of the kitchen counter for preparing uncooked foods and a separate area for placing or finishing the cooked foods.
Cook all meats thoroughly.
Wash your hands with soap before, during and after preparing food. Dry your hands with a disposable paper towel instead of a dish towel.
Don’t forget to sanitize the countertops and any other surfaces you may have touched while handling raw foods such as the oven door handle or the sink faucet.
For more information on hepatitis A contact visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov, www.hepcadvocacy.org. Food safety information can be found at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/consumerpubs.htm.