Bishop Spreads Hepatitis A Virus at 4 North Dakota Churches By Giving Communion

It might be the last place in the world one might expect to contract the hepatitis A virus, but that is exactly where diligent churchgoers contracted the virus - at a church in North Dakota.

Churchgoers at four separate church services in Fargo and Jamestown may have been exposed, and issued an advisory warning, the Associated Press reports. The source of the contamination is believed to be a bishop, John Folda, who gave communion at the churches and by doing so, touched the congregation.

The virus was spread via contaminated food while at a conference for recently ordained bishops in Italy.

According to the report, the North Dakota Department of Health issued an advisory of exposure on Thursday for anyone who attended church and had communion at the following churches:

• Holy Spirit Church, Fargo, on Sept. 27.
• Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo, on Oct. 6.
• St. Paul's Catholic Newman Center, Fargo, on Oct. 7.
• St. James Basilica, Jamestown, from Sept. 29 until Oct. 2.

"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," Molly Howell, a North Dakota Health Department official, said in a statement.

"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," Howell added.

Hepatitis A can cause liver ailment and symptoms include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and nausea among others.