Individuals who are at an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis A include:
- Persons with direct contact with persons who have hepatitis A
- Travelers to countries with high or intermediate rates of hep A infection
- Men who have sex with men
- Users of injection and non-injection drugs
- Persons with clotting factor disorders
- Persons working with nonhuman primates
- Household members and other close personal contacts of adopted children newly arriving from countries with high or intermediate hepatitis A rates
Ohio: The Licking County Health Department (LCHD) has identified a confirmed case of Hepatitis A in a food worker at the Little Caesars Pizza location in Newark. Only one case has been identified, which does not constitute an outbreak, and after review of the food handling processes at the facility, the department has determined the issue represents a very low risk to public health.
The facility closed voluntarily on July 30, 2019, in order to conduct extensive cleaning and facility repairs, and LCHD has worked with the facility to schedule a clinic to offer Hepatitis A vaccinations to all of the facility’s staff members. These steps were taken out of an abundance of caution, and the facility has been fully cooperative during this investigation.
LCHD recommends that these individuals, and anyone that wants to be protected from contracting Hepatitis A, receive the Hepatitis A vaccine. Anyone wishing to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A can contact the Health Department at (740) 349-6535.
Tennessee: Customers who visited a Tennessee McDonald’s location last week are being warned after an employee who was working on July 24 tested positive for hepatitis A. The Tennessee Department of Health said that they are investigating a case at the McDonald’s restaurant on West Market Street in Johnson City, and that approximately 500 people may have been potentially exposed.
The health department said the employee was working from 12 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. The Washington County Health Department is offering free vaccinations to people who think they may have been exposed and warned against waiting for symptoms to appear before seeking help.
Hepatitis A causes the liver to swell, resulting in jaundice, fatigue, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea. People can be contagious for two weeks before and for one week after symptoms appear. A blood test is the most common way to confirm someone has it.
Hepatitis A: Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Hepatitis A outbreaks. The Hepatitis A lawyers of Marler Clarkhave represented thousands of victims of Hepatitis A and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $650 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our Hepatitis A lawyers have litigated Hepatitis A cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of sources, such as green onions, lettuce and restaurant food. The law firm has brought Hepatitis A lawsuitsagainst such companies as Costco, Subway, McDonald’s, Red Robin, Chipotle, Quiznos and Carl’s Jr. We proudly represented the family of Donald Rockwell, who died after consuming hepatitis A tainted food and Richard Miller, who required a liver transplant after eating food at a Chi-Chi’s restaurant.
If you or a family member became ill with a Hepatitis Ainfection after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Hepatitis A attorneys for a free case evaluation.