MEDIA ADVISORY

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

WHAT:           HCPHES Hepatitis A Immune Globulin Clinic

WHEN: An update will be given to the media at 3:00pm, Tuesday,    

February 20, 2007

WHERE: Mangum-Howell Center (outside of the Clinic facility)

                        (Formerly Doss Community Center)

                        2500 Frick Rd. , Houston, Texas 77038

TREATMENT & PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS A

Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) will be providing free immune globulin (IG) shots Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, February 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd from 8:30am to 8:30pm for those persons potentially exposed to Hepatitis A at Pappasito’s Cantina (15280 I45 North) on February 7, 8, & 9, 2007.

The Immune Globulin Shot has antibodies to help fight infections.  Immune globulin (IG) is only effective if given within a two-week period after exposure to the disease.  People who dined at this restaurant on:

§ February 7^th , should get an immune globulin shot no later than Tuesday, February 20^th

§ February 8^th, should get an immune globulin shot no later than Wednesday, February 21^st

§ February 9^th, should get an immune globulin shot no later than Thursday, February 22^nd

Hepatitis A Vaccinations prompt the body’s own immune system to manufacture antibodies to fight disease.  Vaccinations are only effective when given before exposure to the disease.

CLINIC UPDATE

As of 1:30pm:

• 626 people have registered
• 412 people have received the immune globulin shot

HOTLINE

Residents are asked to call the HCPHES hotline at 713.212.0200 through Thursday, February 22^nd from 8:00am to 8:00pm or visit our website at www.hcphes.org for more information. As of 2:00pm, the hotline has received 520 phone calls today.  More than 1,300 calls have been received since it opened Monday, February 19^th.

(For more information, contact Rita Obey at 713-439-6293, Sandy Kachur at 713-439-6292, Martha Garza at 713-439-6193-Spanish)