3 die, over 500 sickened in hepatitis A outbreak in US

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 16, 2003

3 die, over 500 sickened in hepatitis A outbreak in US

Three people died and more than 500 others have been infected in a hepatitis A outbreak reportedly linked to a restaurant in the US state of Pennsylvania, health officials said Saturday.

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Three people died and more than 500 others have been infected in a hepatitis A outbreak reportedly linked to a restaurant in the US state of Pennsylvania, health officials said Saturday.

Thousands of scared people have lined up for vaccinations sincethe biggest hepatitis A outbreak in the United States was reportedin early November, local media reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based in Atlanta, said it has sent a team to Pennsylvania to help deal withthe emergency and investigate the outbreak.

The outbreak was traced to a Mexican restaurant, Chi-Chi's, at the Beaver Valley Mall, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Pittsburgh. Health investigators said they still don't know thesource of the virus, but their investigation focused on scallions,or green onions, the restaurant used.

The company that runs the Chi-Chi's restaurant chain said it iscooperating with the investigation, removing scallions from kitchens at all its restaurants.

Scallions are difficult to clean and have suspected linkage with smaller outbreaks of hepatitis A in other states.

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