Zoneboy
02-22-2008, 04:15 AM
Link (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2008/02/hep-a-served-at.html)
Happy birthday, Ashton Kutcher. Now it’s time to ask your doctor about a hepatitis shot.
Earlier this month, Kutcher celebrated his 30th birthday at Socialista, a fancy New York nightclub. A-list celebs flocked to the event. Among those reportedly in attendance: Bruce Willis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and, of course, Kutcher’s wife (Willis’s Ex) Demi Moore.
Today, the New York City Health Department said a bartender at Socialista might have passed hepatitis A to club patrons early this month. The bartender only worked on three nights when he might have been infectious, but one of those nights — Feb. 7 — was the night of Kutcher’s party.
Hepatitis is a swelling of the liver. Hepatitis A is spread “primarily through food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person,” according to NIH.
Hep A is less serious than other forms of the disease, and usually gets better on its own in a few weeks. Still, health officials are recommending vaccination for anyone who may have been exposed. An estimated 700-800 people may have visited Socialista the nights the infected bartender worked, but no additional cases of illness have been identified, the Health Department said. (Note to frugal celebs: The Health Department is offering free shots at P.S. 41 in Greenwich Village this weekend.)
The day manager who answered the phone at Socialista this afternoon told the Health Blog that the bartender apparently got hepatitis on a recent vacation to Honduras, and just found out he had the bug. “We’re doing everything we possibly can to make sure that no one comes in contact with this virus,” the manager said.
The Health Department said the bar’s owners are “cooperating fully.”
Happy birthday, Ashton Kutcher. Now it’s time to ask your doctor about a hepatitis shot.
Earlier this month, Kutcher celebrated his 30th birthday at Socialista, a fancy New York nightclub. A-list celebs flocked to the event. Among those reportedly in attendance: Bruce Willis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and, of course, Kutcher’s wife (Willis’s Ex) Demi Moore.
Today, the New York City Health Department said a bartender at Socialista might have passed hepatitis A to club patrons early this month. The bartender only worked on three nights when he might have been infectious, but one of those nights — Feb. 7 — was the night of Kutcher’s party.
Hepatitis is a swelling of the liver. Hepatitis A is spread “primarily through food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person,” according to NIH.
Hep A is less serious than other forms of the disease, and usually gets better on its own in a few weeks. Still, health officials are recommending vaccination for anyone who may have been exposed. An estimated 700-800 people may have visited Socialista the nights the infected bartender worked, but no additional cases of illness have been identified, the Health Department said. (Note to frugal celebs: The Health Department is offering free shots at P.S. 41 in Greenwich Village this weekend.)
The day manager who answered the phone at Socialista this afternoon told the Health Blog that the bartender apparently got hepatitis on a recent vacation to Honduras, and just found out he had the bug. “We’re doing everything we possibly can to make sure that no one comes in contact with this virus,” the manager said.
The Health Department said the bar’s owners are “cooperating fully.”