by Playfuls Staff |
1st March 2007
Guests to a Sports Illustrated party are faced with some unsavory effects – a risk of hepatitis A contamination because of a prep cook.
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Hollywood caterer Wolfgang Puck was responsible with food supplies at a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue party on Feb. 14. The event centered around this edition’s cover, graced by the beautiful Beyonce Knowles.
There was a bit of panic when Los Angeles health officials advised anyone who attended the party to get an immune globulin shot on Wednesday. Approximately 3,000 people have been exposed, as the ill cook, currently on medical leave, prepared food for several other events.
None of the celebrity guests at Puck’s annual post-Oscars Governors Ball are affected by the public health warning because the infected cook did not work on the event. Wolfgang Puck Catering issued a statement in which president Carl Schuster said the health of other employees had been checked and food processing areas had been disinfected.
“While the risk of infection is low, we will continue to work with the health department to bring a speedy and thorough resolution to this investigation,” he said.
Beyonce is safe from harm as she did not consume any of the food provided at he party. Among the guests were top models Bar Refaeli, Veronica Varekova, Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Ana Beatriz Barros and Marisa Miller, all featured in this month’s SI swimsuit edition.
Risk of infection is reportedly low however a precautionary vaccine is highly recommended, say health officials. Sports Illustrated said in a statement that it was taking the situation very seriously.
"We are alerting our guests and staff as quickly as possible to ensure they receive the relevant health warnings," the magazine said.
Guests should be on the lookout for symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Hepatitis A is spread through close physical contact and fecal contamination of food and drinks. The incubation period is two to seven weeks.
