Employees of Hawaiian Airlines and Chili’s are among the 93 people sickened in a Hepatitis A outbreak on Oahu. Also included are employees from Baskin Robbins, Sushi Shiono, Taco Bell, and Costco. This does not indicate that these establishments are the source of the outbreak, and at this time no other illnesses have been attributed to these locations, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. However, anyone who consumed food or drink at these locations during the identified dates (click preceding link) should contact their doctor for preventative care. A vaccination can prevent the onset of illness if administered within the first two weeks after exposure.
Hepatitis A has a long incubation period and sometimes people who are infected show no symptoms. This can make tracking the origin of an outbreak difficult.
Symptoms of an infection include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, diarrhea, and yellow skin and eyes. These symptoms last between three to eight weeks, sometimes causing severe illness. In this outbreak, 29 people have been hospitalized.
Possible exposure dates for customers of Hawaiian Airlines are July 1-26, 2016, at Chili’s July 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, and 27, at Baskin-Robbins in Waikele Center on June 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 27, 30, and July 1 and 3, at Taco Bell Waipio, 94-790 Ukee Street, on June 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, and July 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 11, and at Sushi Shiano Waikoloa from July 5-8, 11-15, and 18-21 and at Costco Bakery June 16-20, 2016.
