Community

Hepatitis A reported in Pinal County food handler

Jan 12, 2007

If you work or shop in Queen Creek regularly, and you stopped for a quick meal at the Subway on Hunt Highway in December, you may have been exposed to the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV).

Pinal County health officials reported today that they are actively investigating a case of hepatitis A in a food handler. The food handler worked at the Subway restaurant located at 1781 W Hunt Highway in Queen Creek. People who ate at this restaurant between December 10 and December 23 may have been exposed.

HAV is found in the stool (feces) of persons with hepatitis A. Putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A, even if that item appears to be clean, usually spreads it from person to person. This may occur if a person infected with Hepatitis A does not thoroughly wash their hands after using the restroom and before preparing food.

The time from when a person is exposed until they show symptoms can be from 15-50 days, although the average is 28-30 days. Symptoms of hepatitis A may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and fever.

The severity of symptoms generally increases with age. Adults may have signs and symptoms more often than children. Once a person has had hepatitis A, they cannot get it again. There are no chronic carriers of hepatitis A. About 15 percent of people infected with hepatitis A will have prolonged or relapsing symptoms over a six to nine month period.

“People who think they may have symptoms of Hepatitis A should talk with their health care providers,” said Tom Schryer, Director of the Pinal County Division of Public Health. “It is also important that people be sure to wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing a diaper and before preparing and eating food. Hand washing is a good method to help prevent the transmission of this disease.”

Short-term protection against hepatitis A is available from immune globulin. However, it must be given within two weeks after coming in contact with HAV. In this case, the last possible day of exposure at the restaurant was December 23, 2006; so immune globulin would not help to prevent infection from this source if people were exposed at the Subway restaurant.