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Rock
Island County Sheriff Slams Healthcare Providers for Dropping Ball on
Hepatitis A
Source
of Article: http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/
Posted
on August 11, 2009 by David
Babcock
The Rock Island County
Sheriff's Department has released a report stating
that Trinity Regional Health System failed to properly notify county
health officials of the first of at least 26 Hepatitis A illnesses related to
the outbreak
at the Milan McDonald's. The outbreak also required over 5,000
McDonald's patrons to obtain shots to avoid falling ill. The Quad
City times reported
on the statements of County Board Chairman Jim Bohnsack:
"Trinity dropped
the ball," Bohnsack said during a news conference Monday at the
County Board conference room in Rock Island.
"I'm confident
that Trinity will step up and do what's right," he said. Bohnsack
added that he hopes the hospital system will reimburse the county for some
of the estimated $159,000 spent to help contain the outbreak. The disease
was traced to a McDonald's restaurant in Milan, Ill., where some
employees who handled food were diagnosed with hepatitis A.
For their part, Trinity
did not seem to have much of an explanation for the failure:
Kathleen Cunningham,
Trinity's vice president of hospital operations, said later Monday that
there are many people responsible for reporting diseases such as
hepatitis. She added that the hospital system has made internal changes
to its reporting system since the problem came to light and is in a
continuing dialogue with Rock Island County officials.
"Our joint aim is
to look at this whole process and find opportunities for change,"
she said.
The illness was first
recognized in testing done at Metropolitan Medical Laboratory on June 17,
and should have been reported on that day. Trinity allegedly
notified the County on June 26, but used an "incorrect" report
form. The County did not become aware of the report until July
13, when "a staffer in the county health department returned from
vacation."
Trinity's apparent
failure in this instance underscores the importance of the reporting of
communicable diseases. When labs and hospitals follow
regulations and make timely reports of foodborne illness and communicable
disease, it allows health departments to take the steps necessary to
reduce or eliminate the threat to the public. Without that
information, health agencies' ability to protect the public is
restrained.
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