Health officials in Westchester County, New York, have issued public warnings about possible Hepatitis A exposures at the J and D Deli in Ossining, New York. The potential exposures reportedly occurred between July 26 and August 9. A store representative stated that the employee was no longer working there and that the deli has been cleaned. Last week, health officials in Salt Lake City, Utah reported the possibility of Hepatitis A exposure at a Quizno’s restaurant.
Hepatitis-A (HAV) is one of five human hepatitis viruses that primarily infect the liver and cause illness. Symptoms generally begin approximately 28 days after contracting HAV, but can begin as early as 15 days or as late as 50 days after exposure. The symptoms include headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, fever, and malaise. After a few days, jaundice sets in. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes that occurs because bile flows poorly through the liver and backs up into the blood. The urine may also turn dark with bile and the stool light or clay-colored from lack of bile.