MONACA, Pa. -- The total confirmed cases in the recent hepatitis A outbreak reached 410 on Thursday morning, according to the state Department of Health.
According to a press release, Chi-Chi's will voluntarily close its Beaver Valley Mall restaurant, which is believed to be connected to the outbreak, for at least 60 days. The building won't open until Chi-Chi's has "total confidence" that customers and employees will be safe.
Click here to read the full statement from Chi-Chi's.
Chi-Chi's officials had planned to address health questions at a Wednesday afternoon press conference. That has been postponed "until the company has more definitive data as to the source of the outbreak," according to a statement.
Team 4's Paul Van Osdol attempted to speak with Steve Sprowl, a Chi-Chi's divisional vice president, outside the closed restaurant Wednesday. Sprowl (pictured, left) quickly walked inside without commenting, and a mall security guard told Van Osdol to leave.
The 410 confirmed cases include customers and employees of the Chi-Chi's at Beaver Valley Mall. People who visited the restaurant are encouraged to get a medical evaluation, and possibly a shot for hepatitis A.
Four people who have contracted hepatitis A work at restaurants in Allegheny County, according to Health Department spokesman Guillermo Cole. Those employees will be off the job as long as they test positive, and no hepatitis cases have surfaced at any Allegheny County restaurants, Cole said.
Allegheny General Hospital said it received five people with hepatitis A on Wednesday, ranging in age from 5 to 47. At last report, there were 6 patients in UPMC Presbyterian as well.
Also, Channel 4 Action News reported that cases connected to the outbreak began weeks earlier than was previously thought. The Pittsburgh Central Blood Bank said state Department of Health officials have identified at least one case from Sept. 20.
Jeffrey Cook, a 38-year-old Aliquippa man who ate at the Beaver Valley Chi-Chi's, contracted hepatitis A and died last week. His family also ate at the restaurant, but they are not ill.
Hepatitis A can be transmitted via fecal matter -- for example, if someone eats food that is handled by people who didn't wash their hands after using the bathroom. It can also be spread on uncooked foods like green onions, which are being looked at by investigators.
Health Department officials say they expect to see more cases before the outbreak runs its course.
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions (symptoms, how it spreads, vaccinations, etc.) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More information about
hepatitis A from UPMC.
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