Hollywood best-known names warned of Hepatitis A danger

Los Angeles County officials said that some of the best-known names in Hollywood are in danger of contracting Hepatitis A after a catering worker found to have the serious liver disease, media Thursday reported.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health claimed that more than 3,500 people appeared at recent events featuring food prepared by a catering party in the county.

Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county director of public health, emphasized that they knew of no one connected with the party events who had contracted acute Hepatitis A other than the prep cook.

"The risk here is low," said Fielding, "nonetheless, we felt it was appropriate to alert people."

Officials declined to provide details about the other events subject to the alert, but said that most or all of them had been private parties and that they were getting in touch with the hosts and organizers to reach the people potentially affected.

The Hepatitis A disease is spread by close physical contact and through fecal contamination of food and drink, media quoted the officials as saying.

2007-02-28