31 December 2006<%=replace((Recordset1.Fields.Item("NewsStory").Value),VbCrLf,"
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Auckland Regional Public Health Service
'Hepatitis A' Update

As at 1000hrs today the Auckland Regional Public Health service has received 23 calls from the public in relation to a food worker at McDonalds, Greenlane infected with hepatitis A.

There have been no new notifications of hepatitis A cases.

As the maximum incubation period is 50 days for the illness, those customer possibly exposed on 15 December should have developed signs of illness by the end of January 2007. The best way of preventing spread of the hepatitis A is by thorough hand hygiene – washing hands with soap and running water for 20 seconds and drying them for a further 20 seconds on a clean dry towel or disposable paper towels.

The signs of illness are described in the Q & A document (PDF File). Further information on Hepatitis A is also available on the Ministry of Health’s website http://www.moh.govt.nz/.

Members of the public with inquiries should phone the Auckland Regional Public Health Service hotline 09 623 4600.

There will be no further media comment today.

Dr Greg Simmons
Medical Officer of Health
Auckland Regional Public Health Service

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