Channel 4 Action News reporter Emily Ryan took the public's questions about the recent outbreak of hepatitis A in Beaver County, then got the answers from experts.

Question: Is this an act of terrorism?

Answer: "We have no reason whatsoever to believe or suspect this is bioterrorism," said Guillermo Cole, of the Allegheny County Health Department.

Question: Is there a problem at all Chi-Chi's restaurants?

Answer: "We have no reason to believe there are problems at any other Chi-Chi's locations or any other restaurants," Cole said.

Question: Is this an airborne illness? Is it safe to be around crowds of people, like at the mall?

Answer: "Hepatitis A is not passed on the same way as a cold," said Dr. Julie Downs, of Carnegie Mellon University.

"It's not something you can get from the air," Cole added. "You're not going to breathe the germ in. You will get it from consuming food or water that's been contaminated, or perhaps putting an object that's been contaminated into your mouth."

Question: Should people eat at home instead of going out?

Answer: "Right now might be one of the safest times to go out and eat at a restaurant, because people are going to be sort of extra-cautious about it," Downs said.