Personal Injury Law

Burger King linked to Hepatitis A Positive Employee, Again

By Marler Clark LLP

The Ashland-Boyd County Health Department in Kentucky has identified the source of a recent Hepatitis A case in the community. The agency says a worker at the Burger King on Winchester Avenue had the disease. According to a press release, persons who went through the drive-thru multiple times during the given time frame or have low immunity would be at greatest risk, even though transmission through food service workers is rare since hand washing among food service workers is regularly emphasized.

Co-workers of the case have received the vaccine and are safe to work with food at this time. The restaurant management has been working with the health department collaboratively on the investigation.

The Health Department says customers who may have eaten products from the drive-thru during the time frame mentioned above should contact their primary care physician especially if they are having symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or dark urine.

In early August the Chatham County Public Health Department in North Carolina urged people who ate food at the Burger King located at 1712 East 11th St. (Hwy 64) in Siler City on August 2 or August 3 from 6 p.m. to closing be immunized for hepatitis A by Tuesday. Both immune globulin (also called gamma globulin) and hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis A virus infections if given within 14 days of exposure.

The early signs and symptoms of hepatitis A appear 2-6 weeks after exposure and commonly include mild fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine, light color stools and jaundice (yellowness of eyes or skin). Even mildly ill persons can still be highly infectious. Persons with symptoms similar to hepatitis should consult a physician, even if symptoms are mild. Hepatitis A virus is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter - even in microscopic amounts - from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces or stool of an infected person. Persons are at increased risk of hepatitis A when they have been in close and continuous contact with an infected individual, particularly in a household or day care setting. Fecal matter can remain on the hands unless hands are washed often and thoroughly. Careful hand washing is critical to preventing the spread of hepatitis A and should include vigorous washing of hands with soap and running water for minimum of 20 seconds. All surfaces should be washed, including the back of the hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails.

Full post as published by Hepatitis Blog on November 23, 2010 (boomark / email).