A Utah 7-Eleven possibly exposed almost 2,000 customers to hepatitis A, according to Salt Lake County health officials.
The Salt Lake County Health Department warned local residents if they used the bathroom or ate specific foods, they might have been exposed to the disease if they visited the local 7-Eleven between Dec. 26 and Jan. 3, reports CNN.
The department urged residents to get an injection if they used the bathroom, ate any fresh fruit or food from the hot case at the locale. Already, about 256 people came in to get the injection, the department noted.
“The possible hepatitis A exposure occurred when an infected employee worked while ill and potentially handled certain items in the store,” the department said of the outbreak’s potential origins.
The store noted that it had been cleaned thoroughly and would be participating with the health department to keep customers safe, saying “the health and safety of our customers is our top priority.” They added to The Daily Caller News Foundation that the infected employee is not coming back to work until he receives the okay from a doctor.
“The health department believes the case is linked to an ongoing outbreak Salt Lake County has been experiencing since August 2017,” the corporation noted in their statement.
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease that is transmitted through food, water or shellfish that has been infected with the feces of a diseased person. Symptoms usually include jaundice, nausea and fatigue.
“It’s also important the food handlers be conscientious with hygiene, hand washing and not working when ill — and that managers be vigilant in enforcing those important requirements that protect public health,” the health department executive said.
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