After North Dakota Bishop John Folda exposed hundreds of churchgoers to Hepatitis A through communion, the state's Health Department issued an advisory of exposure for all those who may have attended mass in any of the five churches where the bishop preached.
North Dakota Bishop John Folda contracted Hepatitis A from contaminated food while attending a conference last month in Italy for newly ordained bishops but it wasn't until recently that he found out he was infected with the liver disease. Owing to the virus, the bishop has taken leave from work since October 10.
Unknowingly, Fold exposed hundreds of churchgoers to Hepatitis A through communion at five churches in Fargo, Grand Forks and Jamestown, late September to early October.
"I sincerely apologize to the people who may have been exposed to the virus," Associate Press quoted the Bishop as saying. "I wish I had known I was ill so I could immediately refrain from participating in public activities. Unfortunately, I had no symptoms immediately following my return and during the events that have been brought to the public's attention."
The five churches and mass timings were revealed by the state's health department who also issued an advisory of exposure for all those who may have been exposed to the virus while attending mass. Though the exact number of exposed individuals remains unknown, officials confirm that at least 25 people took communion from the bishop on the below mentioned dates.
- September 27, 2013: Holy Spirit Church in Fargo, N.D. (school mass)
- September 29, 2013: St. Michael's Catholic Church in Grand Forks, N.D. (10:30 a.m. mass)
- September 29 - October 2, 2013: St. James Basilica in Jamestown, N.D. (priest convention)
- October 6, 2013: Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo, N.D. (noon mass only)
- October 7, 2013: St. Paul's Catholic Newman Center in Fargo, N.D.
Hepatitis A is a highly contagious disease, a Mayo Clinic report reveals. The virus is found in the stool of the infected person and can spread when people don't wash their hands properly after using the toilet or changing soiled sheets or diapers and use the same unwashed hands to touch their mouth, prepare food for others or even touch others with their contaminated hands.
What's even more dangerous is that an infected person is more likely to spread the virus two weeks before any symptoms of infections begin to show. These symptoms include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, dark urine, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. The virus is rarely fatal and can go anyway within two weeks after the onset of symptoms. However, it causes many liver problems resulting in acute liver failure in severe cases.
Within two weeks of exposure, vaccination can prevent the illness, Sadly, in Faldo's case, the bishop found out too late.
"I have talked to a lot of people about this, and nobody is too worried about contracting hepatitis A," said Clay Whittlesey, who also serves communion at a Catholic church in North Dakota. "Mostly we're praying for a healthy and speedy recovery for the bishop."
In the advisory issued, the health department encouraged exposed individuals to consult their physicians if they develop any symptoms. The department also recommends that in such cases individuals should immediately exclude themselves from all physical activities for at least one week.
"The risk of people getting hepatitis A in this situation is low, but the Department of Health felt it was important for people to know about the possible exposure," said Molly Howell, Immunization Program manager for the North Dakota Department of Health. "Only people who attended these specific churches and had communion on these dates were possibly exposed to hepatitis A and should be tested if symptomatic. People who were exposed, but do not have symptoms, are not recommended to be tested for hepatitis A."
Howell also clarified that unlike hepatitis viruses; this virus doesn't spread through blood and is not related to the recent hepatitis C cases.
