Just days after the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed hepatitis A in an employee at a Waipahu Baskin-Robbins, health officials confirmed a new case of hepatitis A infection in a food service employee.
The employee worked at the fast food restaurant, Taco Bell, located in Waipio at 94-790 Ukee Street. The department is advising persons who consumed any food or drink products from this store from June 16 through July 11, 2016 (actual dates: June 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, and July 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 11) that they may have been exposed to the disease.
Unvaccinated individuals should contact their healthcare providers about the possibility of receiving hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin, which may provide some protection against the disease if administered within the first two weeks after exposure.
“It is important to note that neither the Waikele Baskin-Robbins nor the Waipio Taco Bell have been identified as the source of infection for this outbreak,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park. “These are merely places where the victims were employed. The likelihood that patrons of these food establishments will become infected is very low, but to prevent possible additional cases, we are notifying the public so they may seek advice and help from their healthcare providers.”
To date, the DOH has confirmed 52 hepatitis A cases, all in adults in Oahu, 16 have required hospitalization.
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