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Prevention

Hepatitis A Prevention in Your Family

The following information about hepatitis A modes of transfer and prevention is provided by Pritzker | Ruohonen, a nationally-recognized law firm in the area of foodborne illness lawsuits. Attorney Fred Pritzker has 29 years of experience and, in recognition of his excellence, has been selected by other attorneys for inclusion in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. If you or someone you love has become seriously ill from hepatitis A or any other foodborne illness, contact us for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies. You can reach one of our highly-qualified lawyers by calling toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mailing info@pritzkerlaw.com, or filling in our on-line consultation form. For more information about Fred Pritzker, see Food Poisoning: Attorney.

Hepatitis A Prevention

These steps should be taken to protect your family from hepatitis A:

Cook all meat thoroughly
Return undercooked meat at restaurants
Keep your kitchen clean of harmful germs
Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider
Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
Be aware of the water you drink
Wash hands with soap
Get the Hepatitis A vaccine

Because we have safety regulations in place in the U.S., the risk of hepatitis A infection in this country is not nearly as great as it is in the developing world. But until hepatitis A is completely eradicated in this country—an unlikely event—it is important that you understand the hepatitis A prevention steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Hepatitis A Prevention: Food Preparation and Consumption

You can take hepatitis prevention steps to avoid spreading harmful germs in your kitchen. You should keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods. Wash your hands, counters, and utensils with hot soapy water after they touch raw meat. You should never place cooked meat on the unwashed plate that held the raw meat. Wash your meat thermometer between testing meat or shellfish that requires further cooking. The following is additional information about food handling and Hepatitis A prevention:

Meat: Your family should cook meat, poultry and shellfish thoroughly. Use a digital instant-read meat thermometer. Make sure it reads at least 160º Fahrenheit. If a restaurant serves your family an undercooked hamburger or other meat product, send it back for thorough cooking. Do not hesitate to ask for a new bun and a clean plate as well.
Beverages: You should drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider. Commercial juice in boxes and vacuum-sealed juice in glass containers have been pasteurized, though it may not say so on the label. Juice concentrates are heated sufficiently enough to kill pathogens.
Water: Find out if your municipal water has been treated with chlorine or other effective disinfectants. When swimming, avoid swallowing lake or pool water. If someone who is infected with Hepatitis A has been swimming in the water, it could become contaminated.
Fruits and Vegetables: You should wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if they will not be cooked before eating. The elderly, people with fragile immune systems and children under five years of age should not eat alfalfa sprouts. Research is underway to devise methods to decontaminate alfalfa seeds and sprouts.

Hepatitis A Prevention: Contact with Family Members
You can reduce the risk of spreading infection by ensuring that people with diarrhea (especially children) wash their hands carefully with soap after bowel movements. Children who are in daycare are more likely to be exposed to hepatitis A. You should always wash your hands after changing soiled diapers. Anyone with diarrhea should not swim in public pools or lakes, share baths with others, or prepare food for others.

Hepatitis A Vaccination
A vaccine is an injection that gives your body the tools it needs to attack certain viruses. A hepatitis A vaccination helps your body produce antibodies that can combat the hepatitis A virus if you become infected in the future. With all of the hepatitis A modes of transfer from feces to food to human, you should discuss getting a hepatitis A vaccination with your doctor.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently recommended that Hepatitis A vaccinations be routinely given to children 12 months and older. You should consult your pediatrician regarding this.

For short-term protection from hepatitis A, an injection of antibodies called Immune globulin can be given by a doctor. It can also be used for persons who have already been exposed to the hepatitis A virus.

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Firm News

Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America

Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

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Pritzker | Ruohonen attorney Rich Ruohonen is managing attorney for our Taste of Chicago / Pars Cove Salmonella cases, which involve a Salmonella outbreak with over 180 confirmed cases of Salmonella. Contact Rich Ruohonen regarding these cases at 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free).

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Foodborne Outbreaks

Oklahoma E. coli: An Oklahoma E. coli outbreak may be linked to a Locust Grove restaurant.
Nebraska Beef Lawsuit: Nebraska Beef, Ltd. has recalled millions of pounds of beef products and has been linked to 2 outbreaks.
Massachusettes E. coli: A Massachusettes E. coli outbreak has been linked to Nebraska Beef products and Coleman Meat products.
Whole Foods Market Lawsuit: The Whole Foods Market E. coli outbreak is part of the Massachusettes E. coli outbreak above.
Virginia E. coli - Goshen Scout Reservation: Dozens of scouts were sickened in an E. coli outbreak linked to beef.
Georgia E. coli - Barbecue Pit Lawsuit
Ohio E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
Michigan E. coli Outbreak: Ground beef may have sickened people in both Michigan and Ohio.
Multi-State Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak: Tomatoes have sickened hundreds of people throughout the United States.
Minnesota Preschool E. coli: Outbreak associated with Wonder World Preschool in Slayton, Minnesota.
Washington E. coli Lettuce: Outbreak associated with commercial romaine lettuce.
Texas Salmonella Saintpaul - Tomato: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
New Mexico Salmonella Saintpaul Linked to Tomatoes: Outbreak most likely caused by Roma, red plum and/or red round tomatoes.
Nebraska E. coli Outbreak Associated with Roast Beef
Hepatitis A - La Mesa California Chipotle - Lawyer and Lawsuit: San Diego County hepatitis A outbreak
Salmonella - Puffed Rice Recall and Puffed Wheat Recall: Malt-O-Meal cereal recall.
Minnesota Salmonella - Milford Valley Farms Lawsuit: Frozen chicken product.
Salmonella - Agropecuaria Montelibano Cantaloupe Recall: Cantaloupe from Honduras.
Salmonella Litchfield Cantaloupe Lawsuit: Recall of Dole, Chiquita and other brands.
Honolulu E. coli - Sekiya's Lawsuit and Lawyer: E. coli associated with Hawaii restaurant.
Alabama E. coli - Church Supper: Outbreak associated with Eastern Shore Baptis Church.
E. coli - Rochester Meat Company Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef recall.
E. coli - Jeno's and Totino's Pizza Recall and Lawsuit: Pepperoni on pizza.
E. coli - Topps Recall and Lawsuit: Hamburger patty recall.
E. coli - Cargill/Sam's Club Recall and Lawsuit: Ground beef patty recall.
Listeria - Whittier Farms Recall and Lawsuit: Miscarriage and death linked to milk.
Hawaii Salmonella - Tuna Recall and Lawsuit
Salmonella - Safeway Ground Beef Recall and Lawsuit

What We Do

Foodborne Illness