Foodborne Illness Short Answer Questions

Hepatitis A

Write a 125- to 150-word response to each of the following questions:

What is the infectious agent (pathogen) that causes this infectious disease? For example,
the name of the bacteria, virus, or parasite.
The infectious pathogen that causes Hepatitis A (HAV) is the Hepatitis A virus. The virus
consists of molecules of Ribonucleric Acid (RNA) surrounded by protein. HAV is located in the
feces of infected people. Heath: The Basics, Green Edition (9th ed.) claims that since
vaccinations became available, HAV rates have declined by nearly 90 percent in the United
States. However, over 25,000 people per year are still infected (Rebecca J. Donatelle, 2011, pg.
409). Hepatitis is usually a mild virus that can last from 10 to 50 days. The duration depends on
the number infectious particles an individual consumes. According to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, many of the people infected with HAV do not have the clinical disease.

How is this infectious agent transmitted through food or water?

There are several ways the infectious agents of hepatitis A (HAV) can be transmitted through
food or water. Eating foods or drinking water that has been contaminated with HAV can cause
an individual to contract the disease. People that eat foods prepared by HAV infected individuals
are at risk of contracting the disease. HAV can also be transmitted by eating raw or uncooked
foods. Properly cooking infected foods kills the pathogens that cause the disease. Children in day
care centers are at a higher risk than most people for contracting this disease; although, they are
much less likely to develop symptoms . Child care workers can transmit the pathogens from a

childs feces, when changing soiled diapers, into their food if they do not properly wash their
hands.

What is an example of a real life outbreak of this foodborne illness in the United States?
On November 21, 2003, www.slate.com posted an article titled, Dirty Rotten Scallions. This
Article documented the biggest outbreak of hepatitis a (HAV) in the United States to date. The
outbreak took place in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. There were 540 documented cases, three of
which resulted in death. An investigation linked the outbreak of the disease to scallions that were
served at the Chi Chis restaurant located in the Beaver Valley Mall. It also concluded that the
scallions came from three growers in Mexico that were implicated in smaller outbreaks in
Georgia and Tennessee a month earlier. Bazell (2003) states, The problem is that many
countries that grow produce for the United States-such as Mexico, Guatemala, and the
Philippines-have limited sources of sanitary water, including the water to irrigate crops. As a
result, a great deal of freshly picked produce can pass through streams of untreated waste before
making its way to the United States (para. 5).

What are the clinical symptoms, duration of the disease, and treatment if any?
Hepatitis A (HAV) is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver. Someone that has
contracted HAV may have the following symptoms: abdominal pain in the area of the liver, loss
of regular appetite, fever, urine that appears darker than normal, experience muscle pain
throughout their body, and a yellowing of the skin-jaundice. This disease can last from 10 to 50
days. The duration of the disease is dependent on the number of particles an individual
consumes. There is currently no treatment for HAV once it has been contracted;

however, there is a vaccine to prevent the infection. The body will clear the virus on its own and
has no lasting damage. Coping with the symptoms of HAV is the only way to treat it.

What steps can be taken to prevent further outbreaks? Include individual as well as
environmental precautions and methods.
There are several precautions and methods, both individual and environmental, which can help
prevent further outbreaks of hepatitis a (HAV). First, it is important to ensuring that all children
receive the HAV vaccine by the time they are one year old. Boosters should be given to children
and adults when traveling to countries with high rates of the disease. The next important
precaution is practicing good hygiene. Washing hands after using the toilet, before cooking
meals, and after changing a childs diaper can protect people from infection. It is also a good
idea not to share towels, silverware (eating utensils), and tooth brushes with others. Also, some
other precautions that can prevent the spread of HAV include: peeling and washing all fruits
vegetables before eating then, drinking bottled water, and boiling water before drinking it when
traveling in other countries. Finally, always dispose of human waste (feces) properly.