The Fresh Thyme blackberries hepatitis A outbreak has ended after sickening 20 people in 7 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of 2 more illnesses since the last update on December 11, 2019. The case count by state as of February 19, 2020 is: Indiana (3), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (7), Pennsylvania (1), and Wisconsin (6). The CDC update did not provide the current case count numbers by state, but the FDA did. Pennsylvania was added to the state list, and one more ill person in Wisconsin was added. Illness onset dates ranged from October 8, 2019 to November 15, 2019. The patient age range was from 14 to 72 years. Of 19 people who gave information about their illness to investigators, 11, or … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Food Worker at Papa John’s Pizza in Horn Lake, MS
A food worker at Papa John's Pizza at 906 Goodman Road in Horn Lake, Mississippi has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. according to a news release by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDA). That person worked at the restaurant while infectious from January 28, 2020 to February 11, 2020. That means that anyone who ate or drank at that restaurant or who received a pizza delivery during that time frame may have been exposed to the virus. Unfortunately, it's too late for a vaccine for anyone who was there before February 5, 2020, because the vaccine is only effective if given within 14 days of exposure. Those people should monitor their health for the symptoms of hepatitis A and see a doctor if the symptoms appear. Symptoms of hepatitis A include fever, jaundice yellowing … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Exposure at Old Mill Tavern in Homosassa, FL
A food service worker at Old Mill Tavern in Homosassa, Florida has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County (DOH-Citrus). That person worked at that restaurant, located at 10465 West Yulee Drive in Homosassa, from January 19 through February 3, 2020. It's too late for anyone who ate at the Old Mill Tavern before January 27, 2020 to get vaccinated against the virus, since the vaccines are effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Those people should contact their doctors, and watch for the symptoms of hepatitis A. A hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination is recommended for anyone who ate or drank at this restaurant between January 28 through February 3, 2020. If you have had the vaccine or have had a hepatitis A … [Read more...]
How Do You Know If You Have a Hepatitis A Infection?
Hepatitis A is a very contagious virus that can cause serious illness and death. In recent years, a huge hepatitis A outbreak in the United States has been ongoing since 2016. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 30,000 people have. even sickened, almost 19,000 patients have been hospitalized, and more than 300 people have died. How do you know if you have a hepatitis A infection? While most of these illnesses have occurred in certain populations, such as the homeless and drug users, this virus can infect people through contaminated food and drink. A hepatitis A outbreak in 2019, which has not yet been declared over, was linked to Fresh Thyme blackberries. And a hepatitis A outbreak at the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club in Mendham Township, New … [Read more...]
Employee of Laurel, MS Huddle House Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
An employee of the Huddle House located at 1304 Chantilly Street in Laurel, Mississippi has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). Customers of that facility may have been exposed to the virus. While infectious, the employee worked at the restaurant from January 26 through January 29, 2020. Luckily, those dates are within the two week time period when a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination is effective. Anyone who ate at the restaurant during that time period should get a vaccination if they have not been previously vaccinated. Anyone who has had this illness should have immunity against the virus. Check with your doctor if you aren't sure. One of the challenges with this illness is that people are infectious for two … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Gumbo Pot in Vicksburg, MS
An employee of the Gumbo Pot, located at 3401 Halls Ferry Road #5 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, has been diagnosed with a hepatitis A infection, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. That means that anyone who ate at that facility on January 17, 18, and 22, 2020 may have been exposed to the virus. The restaurant is located in Warren County, Mississippi. Since the vaccination against hepatitis A is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure, only people who were at that restaurant on January 22, 2020 qualify for the shot. They can get a vaccine free of charge from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at the Warren County Health Department at 807 Monroe Street in Vicksburg. The last day for this group to get a vaccination is February 5, 2020. If … [Read more...]
Worker at P.F. Chang’s in Sarasota Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A worker at P.F. Chang's located at 766 South Osprey in Sarasota, Florida has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a notice from the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County. An investigation was launched and officials found that that person worked at that end from November 6, 2019 to November 17, 2019. The means that anyone who ate at that specific P.F. Chang's in Sarasota on November 6 must get an immune globulin or hepatitis A vaccine today. The vaccinations are most effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Anyone who ate or drank at that restaurant during that time frame should get vaccinated. If you have been vaccinated against the virus or have been infected in the past, you are considered immune to the virus. No additional action is needed. If you … [Read more...]
Employees at the Kissimmee, FL Denny’s Restaurant Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
Employees at the Denny's restaurant located at 2051 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee, Florida have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, and may have worked while infectious, according to the Osceola County Health Department. Two people who worked there from October 14, 2019 though November 1, 2019 have been diagnosed with the viral illness. Anyone who ate or drank at this restaurant between October 24 and November 1, 2019 should get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. These vaccines are effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Anyone who ate food or drank beverages at that store between October 14 and October 23, 2019 should watch their health for the symptoms of hepatitis A; it's too late for a vaccination. Those symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, … [Read more...]
Somerville, NJ ShopRite Employee Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A Somerville, New Jersey ShopRite employee has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Somerset County Health Department. That department, along with the New Jersey Department of Health and Wakefern Corporation, is working to notify shoppers of that market. The ShopRite store is located at 1 South Davenport Street in Somerville, New Jersey. The employee's infectious period was from October 13, 2019 to October 30, 2019. That means that anyone who who purchased items from the in-store deli or who used the restroom during that time frame may have been infected and should get the hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccine. Unfortunately, the vaccines are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure, which means that it's too late to get the shot for anyone who visited … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Employee at E & B Discount Grocery in Hattiesburg, MS
An employee at E & B Discount Grocery at 5395 Old Highway 42 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a news release issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health. While infectious, that employee handled fresh produce and packaged smoked and uncooked meats. Anyone who bought those products between October 10 and October 24, 2019 may have been exposed to the virus. MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said in a statement, "The risk of transmission of hepatitis A in this situation is likely very low. However, as a precaution, we recommend that anyone who purchased the listed products in this time period should consider getting a hepatitis A vaccination if they have not been previously immunized. The management and staff of E & B … [Read more...]
