BISMARCK, N.D. (AP Oct 24, 2013) – The North Dakota Department of Health says people who attended five Catholic churches and took communion on specific dates may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus.
 
     Symptoms include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, pale stools or jaundice. Symptoms can take 15 to 50 days to appear.
 
     The services are: the Sept. 27, 2013 school mass at Holy Spirit Church in Fargo, the Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2013  priest convention at St. James Basilica in Jamestown, the Oct. 6 mass at Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo and the Oct. 7 mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Newman Center in Fargo.The notification now includes anyone who attended and received communion at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on September 29 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks. 

The Rev. Al Bitz, pastor of St. James Basilica, said Thursday the parish was notified earlier this week about the possible exposure to hepatitis A.

He said between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2 all the priests from the Diocese of Fargo were in Jamestown for a gathering at the Gladstone Inn & Suites.

He said that “Most of the people who attended Mass on those days were the priests from the gathering, with a few parishioners,”

Bitz said as far as he knew no one from the basilica, neither staff nor parishioners, has the disease or reported having any symptoms.
     Immunization Program manager Molly Howell says the risk is low, but officials feel it’s important to let people know of the possible exposure.