A food worker at Edible Arrangements at 5211 South State Street in Murray, Utah has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a press release issued by the Salt Lake County Health Department (SLCoHD). That person worked between March 21 and April 13, 2018.
Health officials think that this store sold about 600 arrangements of fruit during this time period. The store was closed on April 17 and sanitation will occur, under the supervision of the Department of Health. All store employees must be vaccinated before they return to work.
Anyone who ate any food prepared at that location during that time period may have been exposed to the pathogenic virus. If you are one of those people, call 385-468-4636 for further instructions. The phone line will be staffed from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm through Friday, April 202, 108.
Staff will screen callers for exposure risk and provide options for getting a shot against this illness. The hepatitis A and immune globulin vaccinations must be administered within 14 days of possible exposure to be effective. That means that anyone who ate food from that location before April 5, 2018 is no longer eligible.
Those not eligible for a shot should watch their health for the symptoms of hepatitis A for the next 50 days. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellow skin and eyes.)
If you have been vaccinated against hepatitis A or have had the illness, you should be immune. Check with your doctor to make sure.
Officials believe that this case is linked to the ongoing outbreak in Utah that has been active since the summer of 2017. Salt Lake County has reported 153 hepatitis A cases in the time period. Officials won’t know for several weeks whether or not any illnesses will be linked to this possible exposure at Edible arrangements.
Dr. Dagmar Vitek, SLCoHD medical director, said, “Food service establishments should consider vaccinating their employees against hepatitis A. It’s also important that food handlers be conscientious with hygiene, hand washing and not working when ill—and that managers be vigilant in enforcing those important requirements that help protect public health.”
