MAN DIES from HEPATITIS A OUTBREAK at CHI-CHI'S RESTAURANT

Following up on a previous post concerning a hepatitis A outbreak at a Chi-Chi's Restaurant, one man has died from liver failure. Jeffrey Cook, 38, died at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after receiving a liver transplant.

As of Sunday, state health officials had confirmed 185 cases of the infectious liver disease, 158 of them affecting residents of Pennsylvania.

There are also 21 victims from Ohio, four from West Virginia, one from Florida and one from South Carolina, Health Department spokesman Richard McGarvey said.

According to Beaver County Coroner Wayne Tatalovich, there exists a possibility that Cook's use of Tylenol could have contibuted to his liver failure. He plans to review Cook's medical records to see if any contributing factors were involved in his death.

Due the number of people infected, it appears the restaurant experienced extensive contamination from somebody. It suggests to this writer that the outbreak was caused by more than a one time case of an employee not washing his hands.