An employee tested positive for hepatitis A at LaRoma's Pizzeria in Rome, New York, according to a press release issued by the Oneida County Health Department. The employee "worked while infectious and may have exposed people who were patrons of the shop," according to the press release. The Health Department is also alerting people who ordered take-out food from that venue. That employee worked at the LaRoma's Pizzeria, located at 600 Floyd Avenue in Rome, between April 20, 2020 and May 4, 2020. Since the hepatitis A vaccine is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure, that means that anyone who ate there or ordered take out food on April 27, 2020 must get a vaccination today. Contact the Health Department at 315-798-5747 and press 1 to make an appointment for a … [Read more...]
Taco Bell Hepatitis A Exposure in Chilhowie, Virginia
A Taco Bell hepatitis A exposure may have occurred in Chilhowie, Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That restaurant is located at 153 VA-107 in Chilhowie. Anyone who ate at that restaurant from April 14 to April 30, 2020 could have been exposed to the virus. Dr. Karen Shelton, director of the health district said in a statement, "Individuals who ate food from Taco Bell in Chilhowie during that time and who have not been previously vaccinated for hepatitis A or have not previously had the disease are recommended to receive the hepatitis A vaccine. This may help prevent, or lessen the severity of, illness. The vaccine works best if given within 2 weeks of exposure and may not prevent infection with Hepatitis A for all, but it can help protect many who have been … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Employee at the Space at Factoria or Fin & Brew Peekskill, NY
A hepatitis A positive food worker at The Space at Factoria or Fin & Brew in Peekskill, New York worked while sick this month, according to a news release by the Westchester County Health Department. Factoria is an event space, and Fin & Brew shares an ice machine with that space. Anyone who ate at the private event at Factoria on Saturday, February 15, 2020 may have been exposed. Anyone who ate at Fin & Brew on Sunday, February 16 or Wednesday, February 19, 2020 also could have been exposed because of the shared equipment. The Health Department has been contacting patrons to tell them about this possible exposure. Any customers of other restaurants in this complex aren't at risk because those restaurants have separate facilities. The Westchester County Department of … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A in Food Worker at Black Bear Diner on West State St. in Boise, ID
A food service worker at the Black Bear Diner on West State Street in Boise, Idaho has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Central Health District in Idaho. That restaurant is located at 7530 West State Street in Boise. The employee only worked at the northwest Boise location. That is under different ownership from the south Boise location of a restaurant that shares the same name. The employee worked at the State Street Black Bear Diner on January 26, 30, 31 of 2020, and February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of 2020. Unfortunately, six of those dates: January 26, 30, 31, and February 1, 2, and 6, 2020 are outside the two week window when hepatitis A vaccinations are effective. While the risk of contracting a hepatitis A infection from a food service worker is … [Read more...]
Fresh Thyme Blackberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Ends With 20 Ill
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...]
