Health Law

KWQC TV6 Drops a Bombshell - Former Milan Illinois Hepatitis A McDonald's Employee was Ill in June and Told Employer

By Marler Clark

TV6 once again digs for the truth in what is quickly turning into both a PR nightmare for McDonalds and the Rock Island Health Department, as well as a growing public health disaster.  Those now counted ill are at least 20 with 11 so far hospitalized.  

Tonight TV6 interviewed a woman who says she was on the job at the Milan McDonald's in June when she was diagnosed with the Hepatitis A virus. She is likely the index (first) case. She claims that she made her diagnosis clear to McDonald's management in June after she was hospitalized, but they did nothing about it.  She says:

Her: "I got out of the hospital June 20. I went in that week and I talked to one of the managers who did the scheduling and I told her I was taking 6 months to a year off because I was diagnosed with Hepatitis A," she says.

TV6: "And what date was that," we asked.

Her: "I'd say the 22nd to 26th, somewhere in there," she responds.

TV6: "Of June?"

Her: "Yes."

Today TV6 asked the owner of the McDonald's to comment on the employee's claim that she had informed them in June. Last week the owner of the Milan McDonald's said the restaurant didn't learn that one of its employees had Hepatitis A until July 13th. Now he has refused to comment.

The plot thickens.

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on July 19, 2009 (boomark / email).