Oscarless singing sensation Beyoncé Knowles may be OK, but that still leaves thousands more local revelers who may have been exposed to the hepatitis A-tainted morsels of beef tenderloin and mini crab-cakes circulating among various Wolfgang Puck-catered parties in recent weeks. Guests of Sports Illustrated's bash are still anxiously awaiting the onset of symptoms, wondering now if digging a chocolate-covered strawberry out of that aspiring model's cleavage—an interaction which at the time felt so, so right—might have carried with it grave, liver-inflaming consequences. Similarly, the cavalcade of CGI experts on hand for the Visual Effects Society Awards Diner have also been waking up in cold sweats, fearful that the delicious tuna-tartare-on-a-potato-chip that they insisted their spouse take a bite of might soon cause their yellowish dooms. Well, fret not, sayeth the L.A. Department of Health, in a letter sent to all party attendees (download it here): The chances you have contracted hep-A are incredibly slim. But if you did, you're shit outta luck, since Immune Globulin shots only work within 2 weeks of exposure. Whoops! Sorry!

An excerpt from the letter is after the jump:

Dear Patron:

We are writing to inform you that you may have had a low risk exposure to hapatitis A at a recent even tif you ate uncooked food at a reception by the Wolfgang Puck Company on February 11th at the Visual Effects Society Awards Diner. [...]

This date is is past the 2 weeks in which Immune Globulin (IG) would be effective to prevent acquiring acute hepatitis A. However, in the unlikely event that you experience symtoms of actue hepatitis A in the seven weeks after the event, we encourage you to visit your doctor to obtain a blood test for acute hepatitis A and medical care. [...]

Please share a copy of this letter with other individuals that you know may have attended this event.

Sincerely, [signed]
Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH
Director of Public Health and Health Officer