Food worker at Hicksville pizzeria has typhoid fever

[Mugu]

BY MICHAEL AMON

A kitchen worker at a Hicksville pizzeria has contracted typhoid fever, putting more than 100 customers at risk for the .potentially deadly bacterial infection, the Nassau County Department of Health and the restaurant said Saturday.

Customers who ate at Mama Sbarro's at 265 Broadway in Hicksville on March 14, 15 and 16 -- when the infected employee last worked -- have a "low risk" of contracting the rare intestinal infection, the Health Department said.

The department emphasized that Mama Sbarro's had passed two inspections since Friday evening, when the county was informed of the kitchen worker's condition. The restaurant, which did not know the employee had typhoid fever until Saturday, had no major health violations in the last two years and would remain open, authorities said, because it was safe to eat there.

Customers said Saturday they were disturbed that the restaurant was not temporarily closed. At least a notice should have been posted on the restaurant's door, said Denise Chatel, 50, of Commack, who had eaten there Saturday with her son Paul, 17.


Complete article at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lityph0323,0,7440462,print.story

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. This is disturbing for many reasons

First of all, how did the worker contract the disease?

Does it indicate that there could be potential contamination of water supplies, food supplies, etc?

Finally, how in the world did a town called "Hicksville" wind up on Long Island?

[Clear Blue Sky]

2. Where is the worker from?

[lonestarnot]

3. Military shots gave me typhoid in boot camp.

Yuck was I ever sick. Guess I am now immune. Thanks Uncle Sam.