Food Handler At Church Event Has Hepatitis

The Spokane Regional Health District is alerting area residents that a case of hepatitis A involving a food handler at a church event has been reported.

A worker at the Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, who cut pies at an event there on Nov. 8, is sick.

Anyone who ate pie at the church is at risk and should receive an immune globulin shot within 14 days, officials said.

Shots are available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Spokane Regional Health District, 1101 W. College Ave.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection spread by eating contaminated food. After a two- to six-week period without symptoms, an infected person may have joint and muscle aches, cramps with belly pain and tenderness, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The illness almost always goes away after several weeks or a month without treatment, officials said.

Call the health district at 324-1451, 324-1448 or 324-1569 for information.

, DataTimes