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Dec 2, 2005 8:27 am US/Pacific
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Lettuce Linked To Hepatitus A Outbreak
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Los Angeles County health officials say lettuce is the likely source for recent hepatitis A outbreaks.
At least 60 people have fallen ill from the virus over the last three months. One outbreak occurred in a downtown restaurant in September, affecting 13 people. In October, 19 fell ill after an event catered by a Hollywood company.
The outbreak comes after years of declining hepatitis A cases. Officials have been unable to link the outbreak to a particular farm or type of lettuce. They're urging people to thoroughly wash the vegetable -- even packaged salads -- before eating it. When dining in a restaurant, ask if the produce has been carefully cleaned.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, chills, aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and jaundice. Most infected people recover with medical attention, but hepatitis A kills about 100 each year nationally.
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)