Waffle House Worker in Boyd County, Kentucky Diagnosed with Hepatitis A

One person who worked at two Waffle House locations in Boyd County in northeastern Kentucky has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a Public Health Advisory posted on the Ashland-Boy County Health Department Facebook page. The employee worked at both locations while he was infectious.

The window of possible exposure was February 12 through February 28, 2018. The Waffle House owner and employees have cooperated fully with the local and state health officials to try to identify all possible employee contacts. Employees are receiving hepatitis A vaccinations.

Anyone who ate at those restaurants before February 22, 2018 is now longer eligible for a shot. All those persons can do is monitor themselves for the symptoms of hepatitis A and see their doctors. Hepatitis A and immune globulin accinations are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure.

The symptoms of hepatitis A include lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomach pain, dark urine, and clay-colored stools. Some people may not have any symptoms but can carry the virus.

People are infectious two weeks before symptoms appear. That’s why public health officials encourage anyone who works with the public to be vaccinated.

To help prevent the spread of this illness, wash your hands well after using the bathroom, after taking care of someone who is sick, especially with a diarrheal illness, and stay home from work or school when you are ill. The virus is spread through the fecal-oral route. People can pick up the virus through contaminated food, through person-to-person contact, or through touching contaminated items.

If you ate at either Waffle House locations in Boyd county during the exposure time above and have been experiencing these symptoms, see your doctor. There is no treatment for hepatitis A, but palliative care is available.