A food worker at the Waffle House, located at 120 South Goose Creek Boulevard in Goose Creek, South Carolina was diagnosed with hepatitis A. Anyone who ate there between August 24 and September 13, 2019 may have been exposed. The restaurant is located in Berkeley County. This is not a foodborne illness outbreak; people infected with the hepatitis A virus are very contagious for two weeks before they even know they are sick. While the risk of contracting hepatitis A in these situations is low, it can happen. Waffle House is working with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to address this issue. Unfortunately, anyone who ate there before September 4, 2019 is no longer eligible for the immune globulin or hepatitis A vaccine, since the shot is only … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Huddle House in Camden, South Carolina
Possible hepatitis A exposure has occurred at the Huddle House at 1029 West Dekalb Street in Camden, South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Anyone who ate there between June 14 and June 28, 2019 may have been exposed to the virus. This is not a foodborne outbreak, but a notice to inform patrons that they should talk to their doctors about possible vaccination against hepatitis A. The risk of contracting the infection is low, but exists. Since the hepatitis A and immune globulin vaccinations are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure, anyone who ate or drank at the Huddle House before June 18, 2019 is no longer eligible. All those people can do is monitor their health for the symptoms of hepatitis A, which … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Two South Carolina Restaurants
Two employees at two different restaurants in South Carolina have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, possibly exposing customers to the virus, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The restaurants are Harbour Town Yacht Club at 140 Lighthouse Road on Hilton Head Island, and Popeyes at 954 York Street Northeast in Aiken. Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist, said this is not a foodborne outbreak, but that officials are concerned that the infected food handlers may have contaminated food or beverages. An employee of the Harbour Town Yacht Club worked at three events where customers could have been exposed. They are a social on June 8, 2019, a dinner on June 13, and a wedding party on June 14. All of those dates are within the two week window … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Teriyaki Japan in North Augusta, SC
Customers who ate at Teriyaki Japan on Edgefield Road in North Augusta, South Carolina may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, according to a news release by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Anyone who ate food or drank beverages between May 14 and May 28, 2019 could have been exposed to the virus. Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist, said in a statement, "The concern here is not the restaurant. It is with a food handler who has hepatitis A infection." The risk of contracting the illness is low, but it still exists. "As a precaution, in these situations, vaccination should be considered for individuals who were exposed during the time the food handler was contagious," she added. Anyone who ate there after May 17, 2019 can no longer get … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at City Billiards in Aiken, SC
An employee at City Billiards in Aiken, South Carolina has tested positive for the hepatitis A virus, according to a news release by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Anyone who ate there from January 22, 2019 to February 5, 2019 may have been exposed to the pathogen. The Health Department is working with that facility to investigate exposures and have arranged vaccinations for anyone who may have been affected. The DHEC is declaring a hepatitis outbreak in Aiken County. Last week, there was another employee who tested positive at the Aiken Brewing Company on Laurens Street in downtown Aiken. There have been 10 hepatitis A cases diagnosed in that county since December 1, 2018. The people who are sick in Aiken County did not get sick by … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Aiken Brewing in Aiken, SC
There was a possible hepatitis A exposure at the Aiken Brewing Company on Laurens Street South West in downtown Aiken, South Carolina, according to a press release issued by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. Customers who ate there between January 11 and January 26, 2019 may have been exposed to the pathogen. Anyone who ate there from January 23 through January 26, 2019 can get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. Those shots are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. All other customers need to monitor themselves for the symptoms of hepatitis A and see a doctor if they appear. Those symptoms include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), pale stools, and dark urine. … [Read more...]
Final Update on Learning Vine Daycare SC STEC Outbreak
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has issued the final update on the Learning Vine daycare STEC outbreak. The case count is at 14 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, including people who were at that facility and their family members. There was one fatality. E.coli attorney Eric Hageman filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family whose 2-year old boy died. There are no reports of ongoing transmission in this outbreak, and no reports of new illnesses in students or staff since June 1, 2015. The investigation is now over. On May 18, 2015, DHEC was notified of a confirmed case of STEC in a person at the center. No other recent cases of E. coli in Greenwood County were found in a database search. But on May 29, DHEC was notified of … [Read more...]
Now 11 Sick with E. coli At The Learning Vine Daycare in SC
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has updated their investigation into the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak at The Learning Vine daycare in Greenwood county. Now 11 cases have been confirmed. The cases are of people who went to the daycare and their family members. As of today, June 13, 2014, 194 test results are negative for STEC. The three new lab-confirmed cases are people who had diarrhea, or were asymptomatic, but are now symptom-free. There is "no evidence of ongoing transmission related to this investigation, and there has been no new onset of illness in students or staff of the daycare since June 1, 2015," according to the report. The childcare center has been cleared to re-open. The Learning Vine has met conditions of the public … [Read more...]
Health and Safety Violations at The Learning Vine Daycare Center
Health and safety violations have been reported at The Learning Vine daycare center in Greenwood, South Carolina, which is at the center of an E. coli outbreak. The report, issued by the South Carolina Child Care Early Care and Education department, lists 12 violations ranging from cross-contamination at diaper changing stations to open trash cans and a dirty fridge. E. coli infections are spread by contact with infected human waste and animal waste. In this outbreak, at least eight people are sick with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria; some have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one 2-year-old boy has died. The daycare has received a "C" grade, which means the facility meets requirements, but that is the lowest grade on the scale. The violations that may be … [Read more...]
The Learning Vine Daycare SC E. coli Outbreak Investigation Updated
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has updated their investigation into the E. coli outbreak at The Learning Vine daycare center in Greenwood County. At this time, there are eight cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). DHEC is working with the CDC, FDA, and the childcare facility to investigate the mode of transmission. The facility has voluntarily closed. Here is the timeline: On May 18, the government was notified of a confirmed case of E. coli illness in a person associated with The Learning Vine. The person was interviewed, and was symptom-free since May 11. On May 29, DHEC was notified of a case of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Greenwood County; this is a complication of an E. coli infection. Interviews of close contacts of … [Read more...]
