Hep A Hits Detroit

Customers of Six Detroit Restaurants Warned to Get Hepatitis A Vaccinations

 

BY PAULA BOLYARD JANUARY 3, 2018

CHAT 155 COMMENTS

(Getty Images)

The Detroit area is dealing with a significant Hepatitis A outbreak. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reports 630 known cases in Southeast Michigan in 2017, twenty of them resulting in death. There were 150 cases diagnosed in the city of Detroit alone last year. Public health officials are especially troubled by the number of food handlers who have been infected with the disease.

The Detroit Health Department has been sending out alerts, warning the public about restaurants with infected food handlers. On October 30 they announced they were investigating two separate cases of Hepatitis A, one at the Firewater Bar and Grill and a second at a Little Caesars restaurant. 

"The Detroit Health Department is conducting a thorough investigation of both establishments to ensure appropriate food handing [sic] and cleaning protocols are being followed," the alert said. "The Detroit Health Department has notified both establishments that infected employees are not to return to work until approved by their doctor. Both employees stopped working at the establishments once the diagnosis was confirmed. Both establishments have been cooperative with the investigation."

The Most Sexually Diseased States

A month later the health department announced that a McDonald's food handler had been infected. "Those who consumed food and beverages from McDonald’s in Detroit located at 2889 West Grand Blvd from November 8th through November 22nd (exposure period) should consult their primary care provider to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine as early as possible, and before December 6, 2017," the alert warned.

A case was reported the next day at the Greektown Casino. Guests with private Platinum member card access were warned that they could be at risk. Those who consumed food in that area between November 11 and November 22 were told to get a precautionary vaccination.

A case was reported at Paul's Pizza on December 5. Officials said the risk of transmission is low because the establishment only offers delivery and carry-out service. Nevertheless, they recommend that those who consumed food and beverages from Paul’s Pizza "should consult their primary care provider to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine as early as possible, and before December 8, 2017."

SPONSORED

The most recent case involved a Jets Pizza worker on December 14. "Those who consumed food and beverages from Jet’s Pizza in Detroit located at 15235 East Seven Mile Road near Hayes from November 30 through December 11, 2017 should consult their primary care provider to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine as early as possible, and before December 21, 2017," the advisory warned.

On December 18 the health department announced a citywide pop-up clinic to vaccinate food handlers.

Anal Cancer: The New Gay Epidemic the Media Won't Talk About

"The Detroit Health Department recommends all food establishments work to get their food handlers vaccinated," the announcement read. "To support this effort, the Detroit Health Department is launching a pop-up vaccination clinic program to provide easy and convenient access for Detroit food establishments to vaccinate their employees. Employees should bring their photo ID, health insurance card, and employers will be responsible for payment at $40 per employee." The first round of vaccinations was completed on December 19. "The Department will set up more clinics throughout the City of Detroit, where clusters of restaurants are located," officials said.

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which is found in feces of infected persons. According to the MDHHS, "You can get hepatitis A by eating contaminated food or water, during sex, or just by living with an infected person." Infected individuals don't exhibit symptoms until 15-50 days after exposure. Symptoms can include:

• nausea and vomiting
• belly pain
• feeling tired
• fever
• loss of appetite
• yellowing of the skin and eyes
• dark urine
• pale-colored feces (poop)
• joint pain

MDHHS recommends the following preventive measures:

• Get vaccinated against hepatitis A
• Wash hands after using the restroom and before eating or preparing meals for yourself or others
• Use your own towels, toothbrushes, and eating utensils
• Do not have sex with someone who has HAV infection
• Do not share food, drinks, drugs, or smokes with other people
• If you think you may have hepatitis A, see your medical provider

They are asking individuals who are infected with hepatitis A to cooperate with public health officials in order to protect others from the virus.

Immigrant Day Protesters Have Lost Their Minds. Don't Understand Anything About Legalities And Common Sense

Here are the demands of DC’s ‘Day Without Immigrants’ protesters

Kaitlyn Schallhorn Feb 16, 2017 12:02 pm

A sign is tapped to the door of Toki Underground announcing it will be closed on Thursday in order to support its staff that are participating in the "Day Without Immigrants" boycott against President Trumps immigration policies. (Getty Images/Samuel Corum)

281Follow

• SHARE
• TWEET

As workers strike and restaurants shutter Thursday in support of immigrants, organizers of Washington, D.C.’s “Day Without Immigrants” protest are demanding much more than an end to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Stores and restaurants nationwide remained closed Thursday or sold only limited food and products to show support for immigrants and showcase how migrants are integral in the U.S. economy and everyday life.

And in the nation’s capital, strikers — which are “predominantly immigrant,” according to organizers — plan to march to the White House around noon following a morning gathering of food, music and information about immigrant rights.

A Facebook event page for the District protest included a litany of demands from those protesting — and it’s not just about Trump’s immigration policies or temporary travel ban.

The demands include:

• The removal of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from Washington, D.C.;
• Local governments must make up for financial losses from federal funds stripped from so-called “sanctuary cities”;
• The immediate passage and funding of the Language Access for Education Amendment Act of 2015, which would increase the standards of language access of education and government series for all non-English proficient D.C. residents, according to Councilmember David Grosso at the time;
• The removal of the undocumented mark from D.C. driver’s licenses;
• Affirmation that Washington, D.C. will not support the creation of a Muslim registry or surveillance; and
• Cease “unchecked police violence committed against immigrants, including black people and all people of color.”

The protest demands also include protection for those who participate in Thursday’s event from termination from their jobs.

Protesters also rallied against Trump’s promise to crackdown on illegal immigration — including the promise of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, a temporary immigration ban from several Muslim-majority countries and the stripping of federal funds from sanctuary cities.

A spokesperson for the conservative research nonprofit America Rising Squared said Thursday that the full list of demands show that the protests aren’t so much about supporting immigrants as it is supporting illegal immigration.

“This absurd list of demands makes clear that the so-called ‘Day Without Immigrants’ is actually a far-left pro-illegal immigration effort — not standing up for workers,” Nathan Brand said in a statement.

More than 750 Facebook users RSVP’d that they would attend the event, and more than 1,200 said they were interested in the event.

Some D.C. schools closed Thursday due to the protest.

The Hardest Business Category--Restaurants Get Hit Hard

24/7 Wall Street: Consumers Abandon Some Chain Restaurants

Wednesday, 18 Dec 2013 11:36 AM

By John Morgan

Share:

A    A   |

   Email Us   |

   Print   |

   Forward Article  |

   Get Link

• inShare

Some of what were once among America's largest chain restaurants are now shells of their former selves, losing as much as 50 percent of their sales and closing hundreds of their locations.

Perhaps proving that what is not new is old hat, at least in the world of food franchises,24/7 Wall Street concluded some of the chains simply have not adapted to changing times and tastes.

Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Technomic, a restaurant industry research firm, said many of the struggling restaurants are victims of harsh competition. The majority of them are full-service restaurants.



The declining restaurant brands suffer from an aging image and business model, Tristano told 24/7 Wall Street.

“Today, if you’re not updating your restaurant within, say five to eight years of the previous update, you’re falling out of favor.”

Topping the list in shrinkage from 24/7 Wall Street — or perhaps hitting bottom the hardest — is Bennigan’s, which had posted a 90.4 percent drop in sales to $62 million by 2012, in the process shutting down 250 restaurants.

24/7 Wall Street said the pub-themed chain suffered from an “increasingly outdated brand” and at one point after filing bankruptcy closed all of its restaurants, and has since opened some new ones on a selective basis.

“They have tried to rebuild the prototype that’s more contemporary and on-target with trends,” Tristano said. “But to date, it really hasn’t blown the doors out or grown. They just continue to see some of the weaker links in the chain fall off and close down.”

Steakhouse chains have been hit especially hard in the chain restaurant category.

Lone Star Steakhouse, Ponderosa/Bonanza and Black Angus Steakhouse have all seen sales drop by more than 50 percent in recent years, 24/7 Wall Street reported.

Lone Star has shuttered 140 restaurants, Ponderosa/Bonanza has closed 238, and Black Angus has shut down 63 locations.

The restaurant chain struggle have not been confined to a particular cuisine. Other prominent decliners include TCBY, Tony Roma’s, Fazoli’s and Don Pablo’s.

The Financial Times reported the broader U.S. retail category also faces difficulty at the chain level.

“It takes two sides to make a transaction and at the root of retailers’ problems is a supply glut they have created themselves. They have built far more shops than Americans need,”the Times reported.
The Times said data from the International Council of Shopping Centers showed that in terms of shopping mall space per capita, Germany has 2.7 sq. ft. per person, Japan has 3.9 and the United Kingdom has 5. But for every American shopper, there is 23.8 sq. ft. of mall space per person.


Related Stories:

• Restaurant Association Chairman: Strikers 'Off-Base'
• Food Industry Faces Costly Menu Labeling Rule Under Obamacare

© 2013 Moneynews. All rights reserved.