ROCK ISLAND, Illinois -
The number of confirmed Hepatitis A cases in the Quad Cities climbed again more than one week after the first case was reported. The total number is 23 cases, two of those cases are in Scott County, Iowa, two more cases are in Mercer County, Illinois and the previously reported 19 cases including Rock Island, Henry, Warren, and Woodford counties.
As more Hep A cases are revealed, there are questions about whether they could have been prevented if this was caught early enough and acted upon early enough.
What we knew before Wednesday, July 22nd was the McDonalds in Milan was closed last Wednesday, July 15th. Here is the incomplete timeline.
Tuesday, June 16th- A Milan McDonald's worker is hospitalized at Trinity West and later diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Thursday, June 25th- That Milan worker, Cheryl Scram says she told her manager that she was diagnosed with Hepatitis A.
Friday, July 10th- The Rock Island County Health Department says they received the first reported case of Hepatitis A.
Monday, July 13th- Milan McDonald's learns of outbreak.
Wednesday, July 15th- The Milan McDonald's closes its doors because of Hepatitis A outbreak.
Thursday, July 16th- McDonald's workers are tested and RI County Health Department says 13 cases confirmed.
Friday, July 17th- RI County Health Department sends two emails confirming there are still 13 cases and will not answer any questions. When people contact their office they are told to watch TV and there is no information about the outbreak by phone or by Website. People related to sick get vaccinated. Milan McDonald's owner Kevin Murphy sends out statement saying they are cooperating with the health department and found out about the outbreak, Monday July 13th.
Saturday, July 18th- RI County Health Department holds 1st press conference says there are 19 cases and says the first case they knew about was July 10th. Milan McDonald's reopens.
Monday, July 20th- RI County Health Department holds free vaccination clinic at Rock Island High School and Just Kids Daycare. Cheryl Schram comes forward with her story about June.
Tuesday, July 21st- RI County Health Department holds free vaccination clinic at Rock Island High School and Just Kids Daycare. Trinity West says there was a reporting error and delay with a June Hepatitis case. A class action suit is filed against Milan McDonalds owner.
Wednesday, July 22nd- RI County Health Department reveals timeline details regarding July 10th through the 15th.
This is what is new.
Friday, July 10th- RI County Health Department received reports of 5 Hepatitis A cases.
Monday, July 13th- RI County Health Department is interviewing reported cases. And then receives by mail the case from June and realize it is a Milan McDonald's worker. It informs the restaurant. The restaurant is told to look for symptomatic patients. And it is determined that vaccines would not work since they are only effective if given within 2 weeks of exposure to the virus. (June was too long ago.)
Tuesday July 14th- 4 more cases reported. Hand washing intervention happens at Milan McDonalds.
Wednesday, July 15th- 4 more cases, 1 is another Milan McDonalds worker. They realize it a food handler and sets up the vaccination clinics for next week. The dates released to the public July 6th through the 10th plus the 13th and the 14th are the days that worker was sick and worked.
Rock Island County Health Department, Theresa Foes says, "It was closed on Wednesday because that employee, a second positive Hepatitis A case in a McDonalds in Milan that employee was in the acutely ill phase of their infection this person had been working on the immediately previous days."
More than 4,500 people have been vaccinated and that's all due to the second diagnosed McDonalds worker. The Milan McDonalds calculated for the health department that 10,000 people could have been exposed based on receipts.
Rock Island County says they didn't know about the first worker, the June case until last Monday because it was reported by mail and not within 24 hours by phone or fax as required by law. The Milan McDonald's owner has not acknowledged the June case and says it learned of the outbreak July 13th.
Reporters were not allowed to ask questions at the Rock Island County Health Department press conference. What still isn't clear is why when this outbreak started the public wasn't informed in a timely manner.
The Rock Island County Sheriff's department plans to start its investigation Thursday, July 23rd to determine who knew what and when.
Before Wednesday's press conference, Rock Island County Board member, Richard Morthland says, "In a time like this when the pubic has a lot of questions and lot of justifiable concerns we need to be as transparent as possible."
As more Hep A cases are revealed, there are questions about whether they could have been prevented if this was caught early enough and acted upon early enough.
What we knew before Wednesday, July 22nd was the McDonalds in Milan was closed last Wednesday, July 15th. Here is the incomplete timeline.
Tuesday, June 16th- A Milan McDonald's worker is hospitalized at Trinity West and later diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Thursday, June 25th- That Milan worker, Cheryl Scram says she told her manager that she was diagnosed with Hepatitis A.
Friday, July 10th- The Rock Island County Health Department says they received the first reported case of Hepatitis A.
Monday, July 13th- Milan McDonald's learns of outbreak.
Wednesday, July 15th- The Milan McDonald's closes its doors because of Hepatitis A outbreak.
Thursday, July 16th- McDonald's workers are tested and RI County Health Department says 13 cases confirmed.
Friday, July 17th- RI County Health Department sends two emails confirming there are still 13 cases and will not answer any questions. When people contact their office they are told to watch TV and there is no information about the outbreak by phone or by Website. People related to sick get vaccinated. Milan McDonald's owner Kevin Murphy sends out statement saying they are cooperating with the health department and found out about the outbreak, Monday July 13th.
Saturday, July 18th- RI County Health Department holds 1st press conference says there are 19 cases and says the first case they knew about was July 10th. Milan McDonald's reopens.
Monday, July 20th- RI County Health Department holds free vaccination clinic at Rock Island High School and Just Kids Daycare. Cheryl Schram comes forward with her story about June.
Tuesday, July 21st- RI County Health Department holds free vaccination clinic at Rock Island High School and Just Kids Daycare. Trinity West says there was a reporting error and delay with a June Hepatitis case. A class action suit is filed against Milan McDonalds owner.
Wednesday, July 22nd- RI County Health Department reveals timeline details regarding July 10th through the 15th.
This is what is new.
Friday, July 10th- RI County Health Department received reports of 5 Hepatitis A cases.
Monday, July 13th- RI County Health Department is interviewing reported cases. And then receives by mail the case from June and realize it is a Milan McDonald's worker. It informs the restaurant. The restaurant is told to look for symptomatic patients. And it is determined that vaccines would not work since they are only effective if given within 2 weeks of exposure to the virus. (June was too long ago.)
Tuesday July 14th- 4 more cases reported. Hand washing intervention happens at Milan McDonalds.
Wednesday, July 15th- 4 more cases, 1 is another Milan McDonalds worker. They realize it a food handler and sets up the vaccination clinics for next week. The dates released to the public July 6th through the 10th plus the 13th and the 14th are the days that worker was sick and worked.
Rock Island County Health Department, Theresa Foes says, "It was closed on Wednesday because that employee, a second positive Hepatitis A case in a McDonalds in Milan that employee was in the acutely ill phase of their infection this person had been working on the immediately previous days."
More than 4,500 people have been vaccinated and that's all due to the second diagnosed McDonalds worker. The Milan McDonalds calculated for the health department that 10,000 people could have been exposed based on receipts.
Rock Island County says they didn't know about the first worker, the June case until last Monday because it was reported by mail and not within 24 hours by phone or fax as required by law. The Milan McDonald's owner has not acknowledged the June case and says it learned of the outbreak July 13th.
Reporters were not allowed to ask questions at the Rock Island County Health Department press conference. What still isn't clear is why when this outbreak started the public wasn't informed in a timely manner.
The Rock Island County Sheriff's department plans to start its investigation Thursday, July 23rd to determine who knew what and when.
Before Wednesday's press conference, Rock Island County Board member, Richard Morthland says, "In a time like this when the pubic has a lot of questions and lot of justifiable concerns we need to be as transparent as possible."
