MEDIA ADVISORY

Thursday, February 22, 2007

WHAT:           HCPHES Hepatitis A Immune Globulin Clinic
                       **FINAL UPDATE**         

TREATMENT & PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS A

Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES) provided free immune globulin (IG) shots February 20-22 from 8:30am to 8:30pm for those persons potentially exposed to Hepatitis A at Pappasito’s Cantina (15280 I-45 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 9^th, and were not able to get the shot at the HCPHES clinic, should go to their medical provider to get an immune globulin shot no later than Friday, February 23^rd

CLINIC UPDATE

At the end of the day on Thursday, February 22^nd:

• 290 people have registered
• 239 people have received the immune globulin shot

Totals from February 20 – 22, the HCPHES clinic had:

• 2,284 people registered
• 2,020 people received the immune globulin shot

HOTLINE

• The hotline has received 103 phone calls today.

• The hotline has received close to 2000 phone calls 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)