HEPATITIS OUTBREAK Trumbull County reports its 1st case

The Cortland man wasn't hospitalized and is recovering, an official said.
STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
A Trumbull County man is among the growing number of people in Ohio either diagnosed or showing symptoms of hepatitis A linked to an outbreak in western Pennsylvania.
As of Tuesday, Ohio had 52 cases, up from 31 late last week, said Kristopher Weiss, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health. He said the department is not aware of any Ohio fatalities.
More than 500 people, including three who died, have been infected, and thousands have been inoculated since the outbreak was reported in early November among people who ate at a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant.
About 8,500 people received the shots because of the outbreak linked to a Chi-Chi's at the Beaver Valley Mall, about 45 miles southeast of Youngstown.
Weiss said Columbiana County has reported 48 cases, Mahoning County has two, and there's one each from Jefferson and Lake counties. The first Trumbull County case was reported Tuesday.
The victim, a Cortland man in his mid-20s, was diagnosed after going to his physician with complaints of fever and nausea. He was never hospitalized, and is considered to be on the road to recovery, said Selene Layton, nursing director for Trumbull County Health District.
Confirmation
Officials have confirmed that he ate at the Chi-Chi's at the Beaver Valley Mall during the period when many other people became sick, she said.
"He is considered part of the outbreak," she said.
Weiss said Ohioans identified as possibly having hepatitis A are being questioned and their answers sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. He declined to identify any of the patients.
All 60 employees of the restaurant, which is closed until Jan. 2, will remain under medical supervision until each has been medically cleared, said Bill Zavertnik, chief operating officer at Louisville, Ky.-based Chi-Chi's.
Hepatitis A is an infection that attacks the liver. It can be spread by an infected person who does not wash his hands before handling food or utensils. It can also be spread on uncooked foods, such as salads.
Health investigators are looking at foods, including green onions, which are difficult to clean and have been linked to smaller outbreaks in other states. Chi-Chi's removed green onions, or scallions, from all of its restaurants as a precaution.