Two food service workers in Louisville, Kentucky have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness. Employees at Mark’s Feed Store restaurant at 11422 Shelbyville Road, and Panera restaurant at 1801 Rudy Lane in that city are sick.
Anyone who ate at Mark’s Feed Store from April 13 to April 17, 2018, and anyone who ate at Panera from April 12 to April 28, 2018 may have been exposed to the pathogenic virus. There is a hepatitis A outbreak in Kentucky and in several states across the country.
Any food service worker who has been diagnosed with this illness cannot work without a release from a health care provider. And all employees at that establishment must be vaccinated, and sanitation practices are followed.
If you ate at either of those facilities before April 18, 2018, it’s too late for a vaccination to prevent the illness. The immune globulin and hepatitis A vaccinations are only good if given within two weeks of a possible exposure. You need to monitor yourself for the symptoms of this illness for the next 15 to 50 days.
Symptoms of hepatitis Include decreased appetite, fatigue, stomach pain, nausea, dark urine, clay colored, pale stools, and jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin and eyes. If you do develop these symptoms, see your doctor.
Hepatitis A is transmitted by putting something in your mouth such as food, drink, an object, or your fingers, that have come into contact with the feces of a person who is infected. Since this outbreak began in Kentucky in November 2017, there have been 304 cases reported to public health officials, and more than 26,000 people vaccinated.
Medical Director Dr. Lori Caloia said, “The best ways to prevent hepatitis A infection are to get vaccinated and to practice good hand washing. Washing your hands thoroughly and often with warm water and soap, especially before preparing meals or eating, after using the bathroom or changing a diaper is a proven way to prevent the spread of diseases. Hand sanitizer is not as effective as hand washing against hepatitis A.”
