Alert targets 26,000 at Expo:Gaming conference worker infected with hepati

[NVMojo]

Gaming conference worker infected with hepatitis A

Sept. 24, 2005

The success of a worldwide public health manhunt begun Friday -- one spawned by a carrier of the hepatitis A virus at the recent Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas -- could literally mean the difference between life or death for some of the 26,000 conventiongoers.

If local, state, and health officials can determine before Wednesday who among the 26,000 might have been exposed to the virus by a food handler during the Sept. 13-15 event, those attendees can receive shots of gamma globulin.

The shot can prevent the onset of hepatitis A symptoms that can result in death or dangerous liver transplants.

More than 8,000 Clark County residents attended the gaming conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center, so the Clark County Health District is offering free gamma globulin shots today and Sunday at the Ravenholt Public Health Center at 625 Shadow Lane. The clinic will be open each day from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Sep-24-Sat-2005/news/27260017.html

[Lars39]

1. Food handlers in Clark County are not required to wear protective gloves,

I bet that changes!

[NVMojo]

2. it's gross to think about it, actually ...

[Paulie]

3. Wasn't there, but glad I got vaccinated!

Twinrix course a couple years ago.

Poor food handling exists everywhere, be it raw food in the fields or prepared dishes.

[HereSince1628]

4. What did it cost? I was told $160 this summer when I checked.

I was surprised at the cost.

[Paulie]

6. I'd have to dig through the files to find the cost.

It was several hundred, but also was for both me and the spouse, with tetanus boosters as well. The twinrix course is 3 shots, now, 1 month, then 6 months. So part of the cost is the service.

[pinniped]

5. It's such a burden for certain food workers to wash their hands.

Sick bastages.

--It may be spread by food handled by infected persons who do not wash their hands carefully.Or not at all! It can also be spread by sexual contact or changing the diaper of an infected child.--

How many diaper aged children were wandering around?

Kinda narrows it down to a sick non-handwashing sicko.