A Hattiesburg grocery store employee recently diagnosed with hepatitis A may have caused exposure to some customers, Mississippi State Department of Health officials said Thursday in a news release.

During the infections period of the disease, the employee handled fresh produce and packaged smoked and uncooked meats.

Customers who purchased fresh produce or packaged smoked and uncooked meats at E & B Discount Grocery between Oct. 10-24 may have been exposed.

“The risk of transmission of hepatitis A in this situation is likely very low,” said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. “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.”

Store customers may get a free vaccination today or Monday at the Forrest County Health Department, 5008 Old Highway 42.

“The recommendation is for one vaccination during outbreak settings,” Byers said. “One vaccination provides 95% protection for greater than 10 years.”