20 CASES OF HEPATITIS A CONFIRMED IN NW ILLINIOS
At least 20 people have been infected with Hepatitis A after eating at a McDonald's located in Milan, Illinois. Health officials believe an infected employee worked for 7 days in July, thereby spreading the virus to patrons.
Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease transmitted by ingesting microscopic amounts of fecal matter or contaminated food or coming into close contact with an infected person. Health officials estimate that nearly 10,000 people who have eaten at the McDonald's in question will need to get preventative treatment.
Keep these tips in mind to prevent infection from contaminated foods:
* If you're eating out, check the restaurant for general cleanliness. An unclean restaurant may indicate a greater likelihood of dangerously unclean cooking conditions.
* Wash your hands before eating. Many suspected cases of food poisoning are caused by the patrons rather than the food, so keep antibacterial foams, gels or wipes available before eating and be sure to wash thoroughly before handling any food.
* Eat food while still hot. Once food cools, bacteria can multiply at an extraordinary rate.
