Possible hepatitis A exposure has occurred at two locations in northern Arkansas. Employees at the Arkansas State University food service, and a volunteer at the Salvation Army in Jonesboro have tested positive for the virus according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Anyone who ate at the ASU Student Center or that Salvation Army location from October 13 to October 24, 2018 may have been exposed. Fortunately, this announcement comes just within the two week window of opportunity for a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. These shots are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Vaccines will be available on Friday, October 26, 2018 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Craighead County Local Health Unit in Jonesboro at 611 East Washington Avenue. Vaccines will … [Read more...]
Two Businesses in Arkansas Had Food Handlers Work While Infected with Hepatitis A
Two businesses in Arkansas have had food handlers work while they were infectious with hepatitis A. The Arkansas Department of Health has issued two press releases about these cases. If you have eaten at these establishments, it's crucial that you get a vaccination against this pathogenic virus within two weeks of exposure. The shots are only good within that time frame. The first business is the Flash Market/Subway at 105 North Missouri Avenue in Corning. That person worked between March 30 and April 17, 2018. If you ate there before April 11, it's too late for a shot. All you can do is monitor yourself for the symptoms of this illness and see your doctor if they appear. So far this year, 12 cases of hepatitis A infections have been reported in Clay County. Four of those … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Warning to Consumers of Corning, Arkansas Taco Bell
A food worker at the Taco Bell at 200 North Missouri Avenue in Corning, Arkansas has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a notice from the Arkansas Department of Health. Anyone who has eaten food at this location between January 24 and February 7, 2018 may have been exposed to the pathogenic virus. The time limit for a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination is just 2 weeks from the date of exposure. That means that anyone who ate there on February 1, 2018 and earlier is no longer eligible for a shot. All you can do is watch yourself for the symptoms of this illness and see your doctor if they develop. Anyone who is under one year of age should get an immune globulin shot from a doctor. Anyone who is between one year and 40 years and has never been vaccinated should … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Associated with AR Chuck Wagon Restaurant
A Salmonella outbreak that may have sickened 30 people is associated with the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Stuttgart, Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. There are four confirmed cases of Salmonella in this outbreak so far. The press releases states that "Epidemiological information suggests that the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Stuttgart, AR is the likely site of the outbreak." Public health officials are investigating, collecting biological specimens from ill persons, information about where they have eaten, and any other possible common exposures, including animal or worksite exposure. The site has been inspected. Officials have identified a common food source "and identified risks were removed." A follow-up inspection will be conducted at the … [Read more...]
Arkansas Moves Swiftly To Contain Bird Flu Threat
Arkansas agriculture officials moved swiftly to contain the threat of a low pathogenic strain of avian flu detected in a poultry flock in Boles 10 days ago, Preston Scroggin, Director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, told Food Posioning Bulletin in an interview today. "We swung into action and put a 6.2 mile quarantine around the area," he said. "We feel really good. We think we got it contained and under control." The flock was humanely euthanized and buried. None of the birds or eggs the food chain. An avian flu epidemic could have devastating effects in Arkansas, were poultry accounts for about 47 percent of the state's agricultural income. Flocks on all of the farms within the quarantine area as well as 38 backyard flocks were tested and none of them was … [Read more...]
Tyson Blasts CDC Report On Chlorine Leak
Tyson Foods Inc. is blasting a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about an accident involving a chlorine gas leak at the company’s plant in Springdale Ark., in June 2011. The incident occurred when a worker at the poultry processing plant began to pour sodium hypochlorite into a 55-gallon drum that contained residual acidic antimicrobial solution. When the two chemicals reacted, a greenish-yellow cloud of chlorine gas was released. Eventually, the toxic gas spread throughout the plant where 600 workers were on the job. The plant was immediately evacuated, but not before some workers were injured. Chlorine is a respiratory irritant that can produce mild symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation or severe symptoms such as lung inflammation which can … [Read more...]
