Report by
Potential Hepatitis A exposure linked to 2 Taco Bell location in Snohomish County, WA
1 year ago •source snohd.org
Outbreak
Everett, Washington, United States
The Snohomish County Health Department has identified a case of hepatitis A that occurred in a food worker who worked at two Taco Bell locations: 2727 Broadway in Everett and 303 91st Ave NE in Lake Stevens. They are warning about possible exposure to hepatitis A to anyone who ate food from the Everett location on May 22 or 23 or from the Lake Stevens location on May 23.The confirmed case appears to have been infected during international travel. The Snohomish County Health Department is working with the business to identify other workers who were potentially exposed and connect them with prevention information as well as resources for vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis, as needed.
The Health Department advises anyone who ate food from the Everett location on May 22 or 23 or from the Lake Stevens location on May 23, to check if they are vaccinated against or immune to hepatitis A. People who are vaccinated or immune do not need to take any further action as they would be considered protected against this exposure. Individuals who are not vaccinated, immune, or are unsure of their status should contact their healthcare provider or contact the Snohomish County Health Department for guidance and potential post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent illness. Post-exposure prophylaxis involves receiving the hep A vaccine or immune globulin (IG), which can provide immediate and lasting protection when given within two weeks of exposure to the hepatitis A virus.
If you are experiencing Hepatitis A symptoms like fever, jaundice, nausea, clay-colored stool, dark urine, malaise, abdominal discomfort, or vomiting, it is important to report it. It can help to detect and resolve outbreaks early and prevent others from being harmed, and it enables better surveillance.
Source: www.snohd.org/CivicAlerts.aspx
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