Food business owners should worry about hepatitis A. Individuals can shed the virus without showing symptoms and even an infected handwashing superstar will result in lineups outside the business or at the health department while patrons get their post-exposure shots. Even with the costs associated with turnover, I’d probably vaccinate my staff.
According to WBTV, a Charlotte, NC Papa John’s manager has been diagnosed with the virus after traveling out of the country resulting in thousands being exposed.
During a press conference on Thursday evening, officials said the employee was a manager at the Papa Johns restaurant who contracted Hep A while traveling out of the country.
The employee was diagnosed on Monday or Tuesday of this week.
“The Mecklenburg County Health Department is working with the State Health Department and our Public Information Office on coordinating messages about what residents who ate food from the restaurant should do,” the email states.
If you ate at the restaurant between March 28 and April 7, officials say you should get a hepatitis vaccination. The vaccine is effective if you were exposed within the last 14 days and could prevent you from getting sick. If you ate food from this location between March 24 and March 27, officials say the vaccination would no longer be effective. In this case, you should be aware of the symptoms and notify your physician if you see them.
There will be a vaccination clinic for people at the Cabarrus County Health Department and Mecklenburg County Health Department on Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm.